LAKEPORT – This coming Tuesday the Board of Supervisors will continue a public hearing on a controversial plan for a small subdivision outside of Lakeport.

On Jan. 15 the board took lengthy public testimony on developer Mark Mitchell's Eachus View Estates subdivision.

On Sept. 27, 2007, the Planning Commission approved Mitchell's proposal to subdivide a 90-acre parcel zoned for agricultural into four residential parcels ranging in size between 2.13 and 3 acres, each with building envelopes, and one agricultural parcel of 76.15 acres. The property in question is located at 3453, 3565, 3585 and 3595 Hill Road in Lakeport.

Neighbors Johnnie Lee, Brad Peters and Harry Whitlock appealed the decision, which sent the subdivision to the Board of Supervisors.

Both the Lake County Farm Bureau and Sierra Club Lake Group have come out against the project, citing concerns about rezoning agricultural land for subdivisions, protection of prime soils and insufficient agricultural buffers, among other things.

Sierra Club Chair Victoria Brandon also pointed to important biological resources on the land, such as Eachus Lake, a large vernal pool.

Mitchell contended that the land has not been used for any significant agricultural use and that it isn't likely to be farmed actively in the future.

Eachus View Estates would be located within the district of Supervisor Anthony Farrington, who was absent from the Jan. 15 meeting due to a family health emergency. The board held off on a decision because they were concerned that if they voted it might end in a tie.

The board will continue the public hearing at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5. The meeting will be televised on TV Channel 8.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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