CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission is set to discuss extending a permit for a lakeside development and proposed zoning guidelines made in the Clearlake Vision Task Force Report.

The commission will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

In November 2007, the commission approved a use permit for Serenity Cove LLC to build 138 residential/vacation units, a restaurant, clubhouse, swimming pool and a pier/deck on an 8.1-acre parcel located at 6035 Old Highway 53, according to City Manager Joan Phillipe's report to the commission.

The use permit is valid for five years and provided for granting of an extension in accordance with the zoning ordinance, according to Phillipe.

A year ago, Serenity Cove LLC requested an extension of the time and paid the appropriate fee. Phillipe said she granted the request administratively “as had been the practice under prior administrations as authorized by the Municipal Code.”

She noted, however, that the zoning ordinance is silent as to the number of extensions that may be granted.

Because of another project, Phillipe said city staff reviewed the zoning ordinance and determined that “is flawed in regard to being specific about the process to request an extension of the conditional use permit,” and so the matter is being brought to the commission.

Phillipe said city staff has reviewed the project file for Serenity Cove and believes it would be an asset to the community. She noted that the city “is working diligently with efforts that will provide opportunity to encourage investment in the community and this project definitely fits that goal. As such it is recommended that the extension be granted by motion.”

In other commission business on Tuesday, Phillipe will ask commissioners to consider a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code to provide for permitted and conditional uses in the C-2 commercial design district on Lakeshore Drive as set forth in the Lakeshore Drive Design Guidelines.

Those guidelines were submitted by the Clearlake Vision Task Force in 2008. Phillipe is asking the commission to make a formal recommendation to the city council to accept the guidelines.

In July, the Clearlake City Council accepted a temporary, three-month moratorium on new construction and major remodels on Lakeshore Drive between Olympic Drive and old Highway 53, as Lake County News has reported.

Phillipe asked the council to take the action in order to provide time for her and staff to review the design guidelines recommended – but not previously adopted – by the Vision Task Force.

Proposed changes to permitted and conditional uses include allowing outdoor merchandise displays, business professional and government offices, financial services, outdoor storage, automotive repair service, group quarters, department stores, gas service, theaters and auditoriums, veterinary offices with enclosed boarding structures and large collection facilities.

Phillipe noted that the Vision Task Force Report also addressed uses in the C-3 commercial design district that's on the lakeside of Lakeshore Drive which are not included in the recommended design guidelines.

Those C-3 guidelines would not allow for business offices, parking lots, financial services, self-service laundry, outdoor storage, liquor stores, eating establishments with drive-up service, dry cleaners, convenience stores, or transient lodging including hotels, resorts, motels and recreational vehicle parks. Phillipe is asking for commission discussion on those proposals.

At a previous commission meeting, commissioners reviewed the proposed guidelines and agreed that they should be adopted “to enable better and consistent processing of projects on the Lakeshore corridor and to provide specific design guidelines for the design district overlay,” according to Phillipe's report to the commission for the Tuesday meeting.

At that previous meeting staff also was directed to return with a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance in regard to permitted and conditional uses in the C-2 design district as recommended by the Vision Task Force, Phillipe reported.

Phillipe is proposing that the commission approve a motion that recommends the Clearlake City Council formally adopt the Vision Task Force Lakeshore Drive design guidelines.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.