Lake Co. 2050 rolls out first draft on future

Local Area Plan plot site development

UPPER LAKE >> The county's plotting of development measures, kicked off this week as the Lake County Vision 2050 embarked on a maiden voyage starting from Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne with several dozen residents eager to provide a footprint as a template.

It is a plan to engage with land use, transportation, housing, climate change, environmental justice, agriculture, natural resources and other issues during the next 25 years.

This special meeting of the Western Region Town Hall was welcomed by Tim Chiara WRTH chair who informed attendees and board members they were to discuss the county's update of the General Plan, a county wide document that sets the framework for a long-range vision up through 2050.

Lake County Community Development Director Mireya Turner, then explained the meeting was also to revise the Local Area Plans, appointed by members of the Board of Supervisors. “We want to know if we want to grow or change in the future, ” she said. “Without your input the plans will not be relevant, and these are important because every project we do has to be in line with and consistent with community vision. We thank AmeriCorps (a federal agency funds organizations to make positive impact) and also thank Place Works Planning Firm, supporting us as well.” “We'd like to get your thoughts on Nice or Lucerne in the future- something like; `I'd like to see our neighborhoods increase commercial activity,'” she said. “The things that you thought that make Upper Lake, Nice and Lucerne a good community.”

She noted applications for local area plan commissionaires should begin review by end of May and decisions by end of June.

Tanya Sundberg, consultant for Place Works, said the contractor has been serving public- and private-sector clients across California. Place Works collaborates with government agencies, educational institutions, corporations, developers, and non-profits. She noted that the General Plan, is often referred to as the Constitution to

development and conservation. It starts with a vision of the future that includes a bold policy that guides a community to support that vision for the near term. Yet if a community can attune the above guidance to a local area plan, a place can provide policies applicable to Nice, Lucerne and Upper Lake. “It can streamline development and avoid redundancy,” Sundberg said. “Land use maps focus on every part that allows development and how densely that land can be developed.”

She then went to explain the concept of environmental justice which is based on a California state law passed in 2016. “What this law recognizes is that communities of color, tribal communities, often face a disproportion of pollution, and economic vulnerabilities,” she said. “These communities are required to address those specific conditions so they can reduce exposure to pollution, improve air quality and improve access to healthy, affordable food, sanitary housing and prioritize specific programs.”

She said the above matters, since it affects something as, how easy to get to groceries and other essential services. It also impacts a family's quality of life if they have access to parks, while addressing their risks to natural hazards and can identify ways to implement mitigation measures. Sandberg noted the vision is a three year process that could culminate in in spring 2026 with publication of an Environmental Impact Review followed by a public review.

During the kick-off, attendees split of into groups to discuss what their vision might encompass. In Group 2 led by Deb Clarke, a Shoreline resident, what they appreciated was the small town feel as well as festivals. Yet, residents mentioned there were problems with internet service and difficulty to get through landline if you are new to the area,” Clarke said. And because Shoreline is so large, Spring Valley can be difficult to serve.

Kate Parankema appreciated the small-town feel. “For someone who walks or rides a bike off Hwy 20 it is relatively safe,” she said. But she did not care for the flouting of speed laws and close calls and pedestrian deaths. “That's the problem,” she said. “The traffic needs to be gentle, and the middle of the road needs to be a turn lane and not a passing lane, because someone is going 40 MPH or less. We had some trying to cross HWY 20 and were struck for their effort. Remember, that's our Main Street.”