CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will consider a proposed ordinance that would establish a temporary moratorium on building projects on a portion of Lakeshore Drive, and also will discuss what steps to take next on its draft marijuana cultivation ordinance.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
City Manager Joan Phillipe will take to the council a proposed urgency ordinance that would establish a temporary, three-month-long moratorium on building and major remodel projects on Lakeshore Drive between Olympic Drive and Old Highway 53.
Phillipe initially presented the conceptual proposal to the council at its June 27 meeting and received direction to bring back a draft document.
The proposed ordinance – which would become effective immediately if the council adopts it – is meant “to provide time to put in place design guidelines to be used for processing planning and building permit applications” that fall within the city’s “design district” overlay, according to Phillipe’s report to the council.
Phillipe said that during the moratorium, design guidelines proposed in the Vision Task Force Report in 2007 – which were not previously adopted by the city – will be sent to the Clearlake Planning Commission for review, with a view to having the commission make a recommendation on them to the council.
While proposed to be three months long, Phillipe said if that time isn’t sufficient staff would request of the council a three-month extension.
“There is agreement however from both staff and Council that time is of the essence in order to lift the moratorium as soon as possible,” Phillipe said in her report.
She said the moratorium won’t apply to projects already in the planning and review process, and staff will work with project proponents who want to move forward with beginning planning review.
Phillipe said the moratorium isn’t anticipated to create significant adverse impact to the city because of the time needed to process major project applications.
In other business, the council will discuss the proposed marijuana cultivation ordinance that failed to pass its second reading at the June 13 meeting.
The council is expected to discuss questions raised at that June meeting – among them, clarity of language regarding plant and parcel sizes, including daycares among listed school facilities and an increase in penalties.
Staff will seek direction on how to proceed on the document, a new version of which will have to be reintroduced at a future meeting, according to Phillipe.
Also on the agenda, the council will hear a presentation from Frank Parker of the United Veterans Council of Lake County regarding the VetConnect program, and will consider designating voting delegates and alternates for the League of California Cities’ annual conference in September.
On the city’s consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate with one vote – are minutes from the council’s May 23, June 6, June 13, June 20 and June 27 meetings, and consideration of a letter authorizing the county of Lake to submit a regional used oil payment program application on behalf of the city of Clearlake.
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071113 Clearlake City Council - Proposed Lakeshore Drive Building Moratorium