CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The draft environmental impact report, or EIR, prepared in the process to update the city of Clearlake's General Plan was presented Saturday at City Hall.

Public comment on the draft EIR extends through June 30.

About 15 people attended Saturday's meeting, including four members of the Clearlake City Council and a couple members of city staff.

The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, “requires agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.”

Completion of the EIR is required in the city's process to update its general plan, which describes and regulates the city's future growth.

According to City Manager Joan Phillipe, updating the general and completing an EIR is typically quite costly and can range from $600,000 to more than $1 million.

She said the city saved a substantial amount of money by utilizing the services of a team of graduate students from Cal Poly, who worked under the direction of Professor Cornelius Nuworsoo.

Ultimately, Phillipe said, the city's cost was about $100,000 to $120,000.

The draft EIR directly relates to the general plan, which underwent preparation from September 2012 to March 2013.

Notice of preparation of the draft EIR was issued in January of this year with a completion notice issued May 1.

Nuworsoo said following the public comment period, he anticipates the final EIR will be compete by the end of summer, with certification to follow.

Nuworsoo said preferred alternatives were used in developing the general plan resulting in the establishment of eight zones representing areas of key growth.

“The plan creates an identity around those zones,” he said.

Goals of the plan included concentrating growth in focus areas and intensifying land, redeveloping and reusing built-up areas by way of general land use; improving quality of housing stock and reducing the vacancy rate in residential use; and diversifying economic base and targeting land uses and jobs that provide living wages in commercial use.

The plan incorporates findings of the Clearlake Vision Task Force and the Lakeshore Drive Corridor Plan. Nuworsoo said it seeks to create a distinct brand for Clearlake including visions that create gateways into the city as well as a regional shopping center.

Project Manager Kerby Olsen said 16 areas of impact are addressed in the draft EIR.

Comments received in notice of preparation included hydrology, water quality, biological resources and habitat; water supply, federally-listed species, utilities and service systems; and buffer zones around odor emission sources.

Impacts are determined to be less than significant within the aesthetics of the plan, which analyzed scenic views, state scenic highways, visual character and light pollution. Analysis of agricultural resources determined to be less than significant as well.

Two areas of impact are identified and mitigated within the air quality category.

The first mitigation effort in the area of “sensitive receptors” (i.e., hospitals and schools), calls for avoiding the placement of new sensitive land uses within 500 feet of the freeway, 300 feet from a dry cleaner and 300 feet from a large gas station.

The second mitigation effort in the area of “objectionable odors” calls for new sensitive land uses to be within California Air Resources Board screening distances as well as utilization of best management practices to reduce odors.

Mitigation efforts for impacts within biological resources for special status plants and animals include assessing frequency of collisions between wildlife and vehicles along Highway 53.

It also includes implementing the following best management practices associated with collision prevention: change driver behavior, increase visibility, influence animal behavior and physical separation of wildlife and roadway.

Impacts in the areas of cultural resources are determined less than significant. Analysis included areas of historical and archaeological resources and geographical features.

Impacts are determined less than significant in the area of geology and soils which, in part, looked at the threat to life and property due to landslides; loss of soil through erosion; and location on unstable soils. Mitigations in greenhouse gas emissions relate to their reduction.

Continuing corrective measures, such as groundwater monitoring for underground storage leaks is called for in mitigating issues associated with locations on hazardous sites.

Hydrology and water quality mitigation efforts include those associated with threats to life and property due to seiche – a standing wave seen in lakes – tsunami or mudflow. They call for the following: classifying low-lying lands and requiring simulation studies for development and proposals in low-lying areas for seiche inundation; and adequate vegetation, retaining walls and minimizing development at the base for steep slopes.

Land use and planning mitigation calls for the updating of the city's zoning ordinance to be consistent with the general plan. Phillipe said the city is in the process of updating the zoning ordinance in its process to update the general plan document.

Less than significant impacts are determined in the area of mineral resources.

Mitigations to avoid permanent increase in ambient noise call for noise studies for existing and proposed development.

Impacts are determined to be less than significant within the categories of population and housing as well as in the category of public services and recreation.

In the category of transportation and traffic, mitigation efforts to avoid reduction in services at some intersections include requiring traffic impact studies for proposals of new development (unacceptable volumes of traffic would result in the need for mitigation); applying new state Complete Streets Act requirements; and application of various strategies such as increasing multi-modal use, increasing the number of lanes and installation of bus pull-outs.

Mitigation efforts in the area of utilities and service systems address regulations in regard to solid waste, which calls for updating the Lake County Source Reduction and Recycling Element and identifying alternatives for Eastlake Landfill or a plan for its expansion.

According to District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith, who was present during the meeting, the county is planning an expansion of the landfill.

The draft EIR is available for public review at Clearlake City Hall or through the city's Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us .

Written comments should be sent to the attention of City Manager Joan Phillipe, 14050 Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 or call City Clerk Melissa Swanson at 707-994-8201, Extension 106.

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