LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport Planning Commission will discuss signage and an update to the city's general plan.

The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

Planning Services Manager Andrew Britton will ask the commission for its interpretation of the city's sign regulations in light of an auto dealership's inquiry about installing a second freestanding sign because it must use separate signage for the GM and Chrysler vehicles it sells.

Britton said staff believes the rules regarding the maximum number of signs for any one use is vague – the rules state one sign per street frontage, and only one freestanding sign is allowed.

“Staff discussed this matter with the City’s Interim City Attorney and it was agreed that ambiguity exists and that the Municipal Code is not as explicit as it should be regarding this question,” Britton wrote in his report to the commission.

Citing the city's desire to support local business, Britton said city staff is suggesting acknowledging the ambiguity in the city's regulations and asking the commission to “provide a reasonable solution to respond to unique situations where a second freestanding sign for an individual retail business may be appropriate.”

Britton added, “We believe that the proposed Resolution strikes the appropriate balance of public and private objectives by allowing adequate avenues for commercial messages that can help support our local business community.”

In other business at the Wednesday meeting, the commission will initiate the focused review and update/amendment of the Lakeport General Plan.

Richard Knoll, the city's retired Community Development director who now is working as a special projects coordinator, is presenting a resolution passed by the Lakeport City Council Jan. 21 to initiate the general plan review and update.

Some of the issues to be addressed include the city's sphere of influence, according to Knoll's report.

He said staff will lead an introduction and discussion on the focused general plan review and update.

“There will be a need for formal consensus actions on various policy matters and administrative items,” Knoll said in his report to the commission. “Once consensus is reached on a given item or policy, it will be noted and then incorporated into a final General Plan amendment document for formal consideration and recommendation to the City Council.”

Knoll said the process will include a California Environmental Quality Act document and environmental clearance recommendation.

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