LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission is set to discuss amending the city's general plan and making zoning changes to the property the city has purchased to house its police department.
The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The main item of business on the commission's Wednesday agenda is the general plan amendment and zone change for the Lakeport Police Department's new headquarters building at 2025 S. Main St.
Escrow on the nearly 4,400-square-foot building, located next to Kmart, closed on March 10, as Lake County News has reported.
The city paid $875,000 for the half-acre property, which has only had one tenant – the Social Security Administration – since it was constructed in 2002.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram's report to the commission explains that the property currently is zoned for major retail.
Although the building's proposed new use is similar to previous uses, in order to be consistent with the general plan and facilitate the police department's move into the new facility, planning staff is seeking a general plan amendment and rezone from major retail to public and civic uses, Ingram reported.
He said no exterior changes to the existing building – beyond modifications to signage and and security lighting – are being proposed.
There will be a minor interior remodel, including the upgrading of data and telecommunications infrastructure; construction of a chain link fence around the south parking lot area to allow a secure parking area for police vehicles and equipment; and placement of an emergency generator and associated propane tank, Ingram said.
“The proposed use of this site for the City’s police department operations will not result in the generation of additional peak hour traffic or trips beyond that of the previous use of this site,” Ingram noted. “Proposed uses of this site do not include the alteration of circulation patterns beyond that of fencing the parking area south of the existing building. No changes to circulation patterns or ingress and egress are proposed for the KMART Shopping Center.”
On the consent agenda – items considered to be routine and noncontroversial – are minutes of the commission's March 11 meeting.
The commission also is expected to discuss and set its next meeting for Wednesday, May 13.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
040815 Lakeport Planning Commission - Police building rezone, general plan amendment