How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
Supervisors grant appeal for Middletown Dollar General store; action will let project move forward
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Nearly three months after the Lake County Planning Commission denied a major use permit for a Dollar General store in Middletown, on Tuesday the Board of Supervisors voted to overturn the commission's decision and grant the developer's appeal, clearing the way for the project to advance.
The vote was 3-2, with Jim Comstock, Jeff Smith and Jim Steele voting to support the appeal by Cross Development, and Rob Brown and Anthony Farrington voting against it.
The board's decision Tuesday afternoon came after a lengthy hearing that included several hours of both community input and board discussion.
Plano, Texas-based Cross Development, which constructs build-to-suit buildings for the Tennessee-based Dollar General, is proposing to build the 9,100-square-foot store at 20900 State Highway 29.
In denying the major use permit in April, the planning commission had echoed community members' concerns about the fit with the Middletown Area Plan and traffic volumes.
Cross Development filed the appeal shortly after the Lake County Planning Commission's April denial.
On Thursday, the Middletown Area Town Hall weighed in, voting against supporting the major use permit, as Lake County News has reported.
At Tuesday's board meeting, Supervisor Jim Comstock, who represents the Middletown area, advocated for the store, saying business and services are badly needed in the south county.
He also cited a county-produced economic development brochure that said Lake County “is open for business.”
“Are we or aren't we? I believe we're open for business,” said Comstock, adding that the county needed to take the opportunities offered to it.
Major points of the board's discussion centered on whether the store design – which Cross Development had updated shortly before the planning commission meeting – fit with community design and planning standards.
Farrington felt the store didn't fit with – or strengthen – the community's character, based on the language of planning objectives.
While Brown didn't disagree with the need for business, he felt that Middletown-area residents largely didn't want the store because they didn't feel it fit with their small town's character.
Comstock would offer the motion, seconded by Smith and approved 3-2.
The Middletown store will be the third Dollar General store in Lake County. Two opened in Clearlake Oaks and Nice in 2015.
Cross Development also is proposing to build a fourth store in the Clear Lake Riviera area of Kelseyville. That plan has not yet gone before the planning commission.
A use permit Cross Development had sought for a store near Kelseyville High School was denied by the planning commission last year. Cross Development appealed that decision, but the board upheld the commission's action in an August 2015 vote.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Supervisors to host Dollar General permit appeal, discuss possible cannabis tax
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week will host an appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of a plan to build a Dollar General store in Middletown, and consider imposing a cannabis tax.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider Cross Development's appeal of the Lake County Planning Commission's denial of a major use permit and mitigated negative declaration to construct a 9,100-square-foot Dollar General store at 20900 State Highway 29, Middletown.
In April the commission unanimously voted down down the proposal, citing conflicts with the Middletown Area Plan and impacts on local businesses already impacted by the Valley fire, as Lake County News has reported.
Cross Development builds the stores to suit for Dollar General, a small box retailer based in Tennessee.
On Thursday, the Middletown Area Town Hall voted overwhelmingly against the store plan, with community members citing a variety of concerns, from location and traffic to economic impacts.
In other business on Tuesday, in an untimed item, the supervisors will discuss a proposed ordinance imposing a medical cannabis cultivation tax in the unincorporated areas of Lake County.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will consider a resolution establishing the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council.
Also on Tuesday, the council will continue its consideration of an agreement with Martin Scheel for the repayment of abatement costs associated with the removal of a submerged crane in Clear Lake.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt resolution approving the 2016 Lake County Funding application, in the amount of $200,000, to the Economic Development Administration to Implement the 2016 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
7.2: Approve minutes from the Board of Supervisors meeting held on June 7, 2016, and June 14, 2016.
7.3: Adopt the resolution authorizing the grant project, County Victim Services Program and authorize the chair to sign the certification of assurance of compliance for a grant application in the amount of $197,121 for a two year period retroactive to July 1, 2016.
7.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, per Ordinance No. 2406, Purchasing Code 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve license agreement, software support and maintenance agreement with LexisNexis Claims Solutions Inc. in the amount of $20,000 and authorize the sheriff to sign.
7.5: Approve amendments No. 8 and No. 9 between the county of Lake and Sun Ridge Systems Inc. for the installation of both In Station and Mobile Mapping and Mobile Software in the total amount of $97,857, to be paid from Budget 2206, object code 28.30 and authorize chair to sign.
7.6: Sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors, adopt resolution authorizing the Lake County Watershed Protection District to file grant application and signature authorization to execute agreement for an aquatic conservation grant with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the amount of $141,475.62.
7.7: (a) Approve Administrative Encroachment Permit #16-22 (closure located at the city of Lakeport's Library Park, approximately 800 feet offshore and extended for approximately one mile) for the Hot Car and Boat Show Aug. 12- 14, 2016, and authorize the Water Resources director to sign the permit; and (b) waive the encroachment permit fee of $665 in light of the positive economic benefit the event will bring to the county.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Informational report on 26th annual Konocti Challenge bike race.
8.3, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing, sitting concurrently as Clearlake Keys CSA#1, CSA#3, 6, 7, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, Kelseyville County Water Works District #3, and Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors, consideration of (a) resolution confirming collections of annual lighting fees; (b) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water fees; (c) resolution confirming collections of delinquent water and sewer fees; and (d) resolution of delinquent sewer fees for Lake County Sanitation District.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Consideration of resolution of the Lake County Board of Supervisors establishing the Cobb Municipal Advisory Council.
8.5, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, continued from June 14 and May 24, consideration of appeal (AB 16-02) of Planning Commission's denial of major use permit (UP 15-08, IS 15-10) and mitigated negative declaration to allow construction of a 9,100 square foot Dollar General Store; appellant is Cross Development, LLC; project located at 20900 State Highway 29, Middletown (APN 024-301-18).
8.6, 11 a.m.: Carried over from July 12, discussion and consideration of (a) separating the Public Works and Water Resources departments; (b) approve revisions to the Water Resources Director classification and establish the minimum qualification criteria; and (c) request an advertising process broader than normal because of the unique nature of the position and value to the county’ economy.
8.7, 11:30 a.m.: Consideration of amendment to the exclusive negotiating rights agreement with Veterans Housing Development Corp.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Coleman Environmental Engineering Inc. for abatement of nuisance conditions at 10715 Gifford Springs Road, Cobb (owner Benjamin Hittle, APN 013-037-07), for the amount of $15,000 and authorize chair to sign.
9.3: Discussion and consideration of proposed ordinance imposing a medical cannabis cultivation tax in the unincorporated Areas of Lake County.
9.4: Continued from July 12 and June 14, consideration of an agreement between the county of Lake and Martin Scheel for the repayment of abatement costs associated with the removal of a submerged crane in Clear Lake.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) – Prisbrey v. County of Lake, et al.
10.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) – Lakeside Height HOA, et al. v. County of Lake.
10.4: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(4) – two potential cases.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Middletown Area Town Hall votes to oppose Dollar General store plan
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – As the Board of Supervisors prepares to hear an appeal of the county planning commission's denial of a plan to build a Dollar General store in Middletown, the Middletown Area Town Hall has once again voted against the proposal.
The issue of the Dollar General store, proposed to be built at 20900 State Highway 29, has been a recurring matter of discussion for MATH since last year, when the store was first proposed. MATH's membership previously voted against it.
Plano, Texas-based Cross Development has proposed to build the 9,100-square-foot store. The firm constructs build-to-suit stores for Dollar General, a small box retailer based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., which over the last several years has made a big push into the California market.
Early in 2015 two Dollar General stores opened in Lake County – in Clearlake Oaks and Nice.
Cross Development also applied to build a store across from Kelseyville High School, which the Lake County Planning Commission turned down in May 2015, citing concerns about traffic and the fit with the community's planning guidelines. Cross Development appealed that decision to the Board of Supervisors, which upheld the commission's decision in August 2015.
Earlier this year, Cross Development applied for another location in Kelseyville, this time in the Clear Lake Riviera. That plan has not yet come up before the commission.
Then, this past April, the commission unanimously voted down Cross Development's plans for the Middletown store, again pointing to a lack of fit with the area plan and impact on local businesses.
Cross Development once again appealed, and that appeal is set to be heard by the Board of Supervisors at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, in the board chambers at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. The meeting also will be streamed lives at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm .
Since the store was first proposed last year, community members have voiced their concerns about adherence to planning rules but have also gone farther – into the territory of wanting to have more of a say in what businesses can locate in the town, a desire not technically a part of the current approval process.
Complicating the matter is rising concerns about the potential impacts on Middletown businesses already struggling in the wake of the Valley fire. It was reported at the MATH meeting that two local businesses recently shuttered.
MATH Chair Fletcher Thornton said the issue at hand on Thursday was whether the group was going to give its blessing to a building to house Dollar General or not.
He and Vice Chair Claude Brown have encouraged the group to focus on planning-related issues when arguing against the plan.
“Here's the hardcore reality,” said Brown, explaining that if the property is zoned a certain way – in this instance, commercial – and someone proposes a project within the realm of its zoning and is denied without a good reason, it creates an opening for legal action if another similar project were to be allowed.
Joe Sullivan, the Middletown area's representative on the Lake County Planning Commission, added that it also opens up the possibility of litigation to deny a project without good reasons.
“You can't say no just because you don't like this, because that's not how it works. Everybody has a fair chance to do what they want to do,” Sullivan said.
During the discussion, community member Fairlight Ahlgren said she wanted to change the Middletown Area Plan to give priority to businesses with a local focus,
“We do not want Dollar General or its type,” she said, calling the company a “parasite.”
Another woman in the audience questioned the animosity toward Dollar General and said she wasn't against the store. She would be one of three people who later voted in support of Dollar General.
Diane Tegtmeier of Middletown brought up a point she said was made at the April planning commission regarding how corporations like Dollar General have national and international buying power, and so can buy in volume.
She said that presents an unfair competitive advantage over local businesses, which cannot compete price wise.
“If that is the case and we are already losing businesses, to me the most salient point is, do we want to approve a business in our town that will threaten the viability of all the businesses that are currently operating and struggling like crazy since the fire,” Tegtmeier said.
During the discussion, MATH Board Secretary Margaret Greenley also weighed in on the possibility of Dollar General coming to down.
“Whether it goes ahead or doesn't go ahead, if it goes ahead, we as a community do not have to support that business. We can choose not to shop there,” she said.
She added, “That's not going to drive them out of business, but that's a way we can take a stand against it.”
When Thornton called for the vote, he asked if the group supported the use permit or if they did not.
Ultimately, in the group's vote, 33 people voted against it, 10 abstained and three voted for it.
Community members wanting to voice support or opposition for the store proposal ahead of the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting can email board members at the following addresses:
In other matters discussed at the Thursday meeting, MATH formed a subcommittee to work on a plan for creating plaques to recognize people who have donated benches and other improvements to Middletown Square Park, located in front of the community and senior center.
Brown said the county has $4,500 in donations to put toward the recognition effort.
The group also briefly discussed an idea to place gateway arches over Highway 29 at either end of Middletown.
However, members of the Middletown Area Merchants Association who were present and were part of considering the plan said they had no interest or ability to move forward on it.
There would be inherent difficulties in such a plan, which would be both expensive and involved. “It's a major project,” Sullivan pointed out.
Thornton added that Caltrans would have a lot of requirements.
“For the MATH, I'm taking it off the agenda,” until such time as someone comes forward with plans and funding sources, Thornton said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Lakeport City Council to consider placing sales tax measure on the ballot
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council is set to decide this week on placing a sales tax measure before voters on the November ballot.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, to discuss labor negotiations before the public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
On Tuesday the council will discuss placing on the Nov. 8 ballot a one-cent sales tax – “Measure Z” – that is anticipated to generate $1.5 million annually for public safety and essential city services.
The council's consideration this week follows several months of discussion, research and analysis.
In the spring, a firm hired by the city conducted a public opinion survey that noted a general satisfaction in public safety but a 76 percent dissatisfaction rating for paving and repairing of the city's roadways, according to a report to the council from City Manager Margaret Silveira.
The council will consider approving an ordinance introducing the sales tax, which would be administered by the State Board of Equalization, and approve a resolution placing it on the ballot, establishing deadlines for direct and rebuttal arguments, providing for the preparation of an impartial analysis, and requesting approval of the Lake County Board of Supervisors for election services to be provided by the Lake County Elections Official.
Also on Tuesday the council will consider accepting the Westside Community Park Committee's recommendation to name the park's dog park the “Ron Raetz Dog Park” and authorize staff to work with the committee in placing the appropriate signage.
Raetz is the former committee chairman, a retired Upper Lake High School teacher and former school board member in Upper Lake. He personally took on the goal of creating the dog park, which has proved popular with both Lakeport residents and community members from outside of the city.
The council also is expected to approve the city's participating in the National Night Out event on Aug. 2, and additionally will consider changing the start time for its Aug. 2 meeting to 5 p.m. so that council members can attend the event.
In other business on Tuesday, the council will hold a public hearing to approve and adopt a proposed resolution approving a 2016 application for funding to the state Community Development Block Grant program; consider adopting a proposed resolution rescinding Resolution No. 2538 (2015) and designating the locations of prohibited parking zones within the city; and approve canceling the Oct. 2 meeting and nominating council members as voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held Oct. 5 to 7 in Long Beach.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; minutes of the regular Lakeport City Council meeting of July 5; warrant registers for July 11; approval of Application No. 2016-019 with staff recommendations for the SUP with the People Paddle Board Demo to be held Aug. 15 in Library Park at the First Street boat launch; adoption of a proposed resolution approving the compensation and benefits program the Lakeport Unrepresented Employees for the period July 19, 2016, through July 18, 2017, and authorizing its execution.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
071916 Lakeport City Council agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd