- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Lakeport Planning Commission approves project on lakeside parcel, Tribal Health temporary trailer
LAKEPORT, Calif. – At its latest meeting the Lakeport Planning Commission approved a home project on the lakeshore and a temporary building on the grounds of Lake County Tribal Health.
Following a lengthy discussion at its July 13 meeting, the commission approved James and Cindy Shuell's application for a shoreline development permit, use permit and fence permit to build a home on a half-acre property at 2468 Lakeshore Blvd.
Associate Planner Dan Chance said the parcel has a fence, seawalls and ramps, but no primary structure. It's zoned resort high density residential.
In the 1980s the property hosted a boat rental business and there was an application for the property to operate seaplanes there. The planning commission approved a fence there in 2012, he said.
Chance said the Shuells were in the process of renovating a dock and pier when the project was brought to the city's attention. The county of Lake had approved the project as it pertained to the lake but it needed to be approved by the city because the dock and pier are accessory uses.
Part of the project is a new single family home, which is inconsistent with the current zoning and so would require a shoreline development permit, the sole purpose of which is to protect rare and endangered species, Chance said.
The Shuells' original plan had portions of the home and deck extending over Clear Lake, which had been a point of concern for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife – specifically as it related to the Clear Lake hitch – and the county, Chance said.
As a result, Chance said the Shuells revised the plan, which satisfied the state. He said the county hadn't responded to the plan revisions.
Chance said a majority of the property is underwater, with only a sliver of land that's developable. That area doesn't lend itself to a high density residential or resort development, with Chance adding that the property's highest and best use is probably a single family home.
The Shuells had wanted to keep a 6-foot fence approved by the commission in September 2012, but staff had concerns about visibility.
A compromise was reached in which the fence would be converted from a solid, 6-foot-tall wood structure to three feet of wood and three feet of hog wire, Chance said. They also will put in curb, gutter and sidewalk per city standards.
During the brief public hearing, the Shuells thanked staff for the help in working on the project, and said they agreed to the city's conditions in moving forward, including the change to the fence.
Commission Chair Ken Wicks Jr. suggested the area where the property is located needs to have its zoning cleaned up because it is currently convoluted.
The commission voted to approve the project with conditions including the upgraded plan for the fence, which is to have two electric openings and no foliage on it.
The commission also approved a request from Steven Rugg of Lake County Tribal Health for a minor architectural and design review for a temporary trailer to be located in the rear of the facility's main building at 925 Bevins Court for a period not to exceed three years.
Chance said the trailer had been placed without permits and reported to the city as a violation.
The trailer is being used as an office for a pilot program for senior injury prevention. Rugg said staff help seniors make their homes more accessible and safer.
According to the discussion, the trailer is anticipated to have four to five office personnel working there.
Rugg apologized, took responsibility for the trailer's placement and said he had placed it where a former “job shack” building had been located, explaining it hadn't occurred to him that a permit would be needed. He said the organization is now working on a master plan.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said, from an economic development standpoint, staff believes it's important for the city to be flexible, noting that Tribal Health serves an important community function.
While not ideal to have the temporary buildings, it is allowing Tribal Health to see what works best in its effort to serve the community, Ingram said.
He added that any master plan the organization comes up with will come back to the commission.
The commission approved the project 5-0.
The commission next meets on Aug. 10.
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