LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Planning Commission is set to discuss projects this week including a proposal for short-term rentals in a former church.

The commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The agenda is available here.

To speak on an agenda item, access the meeting remotely here; the meeting ID is 814 1135 4347, pass code is 847985.

To join by phone, dial 1-669-444-9171; for one tap mobile, +16694449171,,81411354347#,,,,*847985#.

Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12.

On the agenda is an application from Teresa Jackson seeking approval of a fence in excess of the 3-foot height limitation within the front setback area located at 999 N. High St.

Also on the agenda, the commission will consider the application for a use permit from Carolann Sterkenburg and Xiumin Wu that would allow for a short-term rental within an existing residence located at 875 N High St.

The site, formerly Fresh Winds Church, was purchased in July 2023 and converted into a residential duplex, which is a permitted right under the municipal code within the high density residential zoning district where it’s located.

The owner wants to use the two duplex units as short-term rentals, which requires city approval.

The plan includes using the former sanctuary space as a communal recreational area that the owner proposes to equip with a television, dining table, board game station, pool table, ping pong table, basketball hoop on a rubber pad and cornhole boards, the staff report explains.

“During the review process, agencies expressed concerns with the former sanctuary portion of the home attracting large groups of guests to the home,” the report said. “Although the Lakeport Municipal Code does not include a provision for denying a short-term rental based on the size or
features of a home, a condition of approval has been established that stipulates that a short-term rental must not lead to any activities or behaviors that negatively affect the character of the surrounding area or neighboring residences.”

Planning staff concluded that the proposed use “is not expected to significantly affect the building or the functionality of the existing residential use,” and recommended the commission approve the permit application.

In other business, the commission will get a progress report from staff on the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and discuss it prior to submission.

The commission will next meet on April 9.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, and on Bluesky, @erlarson.bsky.social. Find Lake County News on the following platforms: Facebook, @LakeCoNews; X, @LakeCoNews; Threads, @lakeconews, and on Bluesky, @lakeconews.bsky.social.