LAKEPORT, Calif. — The federal government has agreed to an exemption that will allow a Lakeport apartment complex to be opened up to more low-income community members, including fire survivors.

The city of Lakeport was notified last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the exemption for the 48-unit Martin Street Apartments, phase two, at 1255 Martin St.

Lakeport Community Development Director Jenni Byers said the apartment complex received its certificates of occupancy at the end of July.

The developer, Lakeport Family Associates LLC, had received agriculture housing credits which required that the housing be made available to farm laborers. However, Byers said those limitations resulted in only two of the units being rented.

In August, the month after the apartment complex was approved for occupancy, the Cache fire destroyed dozens of homes in Clearlake.

Byers said Lakeport city staff reached out to the developers to see if the housing could be made available to those victims. However, because they received tax credits, they were limited to only renting the units to agriculture industry workers.

She said the developer began the process of reaching out to USDA to see if they could get a waiver that allowed them to not limit the individuals they could rent to, however, by January, there had been very little progress in receiving the waiver from USDA.

Byers said Mayor Stacey Mattina then reached out to Congressman Mike Thompson’s office to see if he could assist in the discussions.

The USDA subsequently reviewed the market study by the developer and granted the appeal, Byers said.

“Martin Street II apartments will now be available to any qualifying low-income family but USDA required that there be priority occupancy to farm labor applicants,” she said.

She added, “The Cache fire victims were why we reached out to see if the housing could be provided, but at this point the housing is not limited to only those individuals.”

Byers said she and City Manager Kevin Ingram received word of this USDA decision only 30 minutes before the Lakeport Planning Commission began on Wednesday, Feb. 16.

Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora reported that, of the families they are tracking who were impacted by the Cache fire, three still needed housing.

He said he planned to follow up with Ingram, as they welcome any options to get all of the fire victims rehoused.

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.