CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission extended a use permit during its regular meeting Tuesday and provided direction for scheduling a workshop to address concerns related to design guidelines submitted by the Clearlake Vision Task Force.
The commission granted a five-year extension of a use permit for Serenity Cove LLC, which plans a resort-type development in the area of Clearlake Resort at 6035 Old Highway 53 in Clearlake.
The permit, which originally was approved unanimously in 2007, approves building 138 residential/vacation units, a restaurant, clubhouse, swimming pool and a pier/dock on 8.1 acres.
Owners Leo Cassidy and John McMahon said more than $1 million is invested in the planning process and they do not intend to abandon the project.
Cassidy said project delays are relative to the economy and, while he does not foresee immediate progress, the project is intended to resume when “banks start to loan again.”
The project was lauded by members of the commission. City Manager Joan Phillipe said it would be an asset to the community and that she has received many positive inquiries regarding the project from the public.
“I am fully behind this. It's a great project for the city,” Commissioner Albert Bernal said. “We've been waiting a long time and waiting a little longer is beneficial to us.”
Commission Carl Webb, who served on the commission in 2007, said the project was reviewed extensively prior to receiving its first use permit approval.
He said the project has “good planning” that includes saving trees.
“I'm disappointed it's not under way yet, but that's the way it goes,” he said.
McMahon said there are about 120 trees on the property and development will result in a loss of about 3 percent of those trees.
He said most of the trees to be removed are in poor health, according to the arborist on the project. He said trees are an asset to the project and more are expected to be planted.
An extension of the permit was administratively granted in 2012 as authorized by municipal code.
Phillipe said the request was before the commission because the city's zoning ordinance does not specify the number of times an extension may be granted.
The commission hit a road bump in moving forward with a recommendation to the city council to adopt the Vision Task Force Lakeshore Drive Design Guidelines.
A workshop was directed to be scheduled to address inconsistencies, implementation factors and other issues related to permitted and conditional uses in zoning districts commercial-2 and commercial-3 that have a design district overlay.
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