PUBLIC NOTICE
Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Notice of Completion)

Date: May 1st, 2014

To: Responsible Agencies, Trustee Agencies, and Interested Parties

From: City of Clearlake

Project Title: Clearlake 2040 General Plan Update

State Clearinghouse Number: 2014012023

Lead Agency: City of Clearlake, CA

Project Location: City of Clearlake, CA

Staff Contact: Clearlake City Manager, Joan Phillipe

Address: 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Introduction

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a statute that requires state and local agencies to identify the potential environmental impacts of a project, and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible. A public agency must comply with CEQA when it undertakes an activity defined by CEQA as a "project," such as a General Plan Update. The City of Clearlake is the lead agency and has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Clearlake 2040 General Plan Update.

Pursuant to CEQA, the Clearlake 2040 General Plan Update’s DEIR identifies potential environmental impacts and feasible measures to mitigate those impacts. The preparation of an EIR includes specific time periods for public notice and comment. We are requesting your input on the DEIR. The project description and location are listed below. Due to the time limits mandated by State law, your response must be sent as early as possible, but no later than 45 days after the DEIR is posted for public availability.

Please send your response to:

Clearlake City Manager, Joan Phillipe, at 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422; or by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

A copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report and the Clearlake 2040 General Plan can be accessed from the city Web site at http://clearlake.ca.us/ . Printed copies are available for review at City Hall and the Public Library.

Project Location

The City of Clearlake is located in Northern California, approximately 80 miles north of San Francisco. It is situated in rural Lake County, bordered by Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Yolo, Colusa and Glenn Counties. The City is 10.8 square miles and sits on the southern shore of Clear Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake entirely within the State. Clearlake is bisected by State Route 53, a major connector between State Routes 20 and 29.

Project Description

The proposed project is the preparation of a comprehensive update of the City’s 1983 General Plan. California law requires cities and counties to adopt a General Plan to guide future development. The General Plan is the foundation upon which all land use decisions are to be based. The Draft Clearlake 2040 General Plan accommodates new housing and jobs in anticipation of population growth in the County and the region through the year 2040. The General Plan includes the following elements: Land Use; Circulation; Housing; Conservation; Open Space; Noise; Safety; Economic Development; Public Facilities; Community Design; Health. (A stand-alone housing element for short-term housing needs is being prepared separately.)

The EIR prepared for the proposed General Plan Update is a “Program EIR.” According to the CEQA Handbook Article 11 Section 15168. A program level EIR evaluates the implications of environmental effects resulting from the adoption of a planning document, such as a general plan, which provides direction for long-term visioning and broad community goals. Additional environmental review pursuant to CEQA guidelines may be required for site-specific projects, such as those requiring discretionary approval. Such environmental review may be in the form of initial studies, negative declarations, mitigated negative declarations, or the preparation of a project-level EIR.

Public Meeting

A public meeting on this Draft EIR and related matters is scheduled by the City for May 24, 2014, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake. Public comments will be accepted from May 1, 2014 to June 16, 2014. Comments received at the public hearing and in writing will be responded to in the Responses to Comments document.

The purpose of this public meeting is to give citizens and stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the proposed General Plan Update and associated Draft EIR.

Persons with disabilities or non-English speaking persons who wish to attend the May 24, 2014, public meeting and need assistance should contact Melissa Swanson, City Clerk at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, no later than May 19, 2014. Every effort will be made to make reasonable accommodations for these persons. If you are unable to attend the public meeting, you may direct written comments to the City of Clearlake, City Manager, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 or you may telephone Melissa Swanson, City Clerk at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

In addition, general information on the General Plan Update and Draft EIR is available for your inspection at the above office address between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

This notice is posted in accordance with the provisions of the California Government Code, Title 7, Chapter 65000, as amended.