Planning commission approves lakebed permit and two variances for Disney Boat Rentals at Lakeshore Boulevard

The Lake County Planning Commission on May 22 approved a lakebed encroachment permit and two variances under the county shoreline ordinance to allow Disney Boat Rentals to install two floating docks and supporting facilities at 2200 Lakeshore Boulevard in Lakeport (APN 026-031-29). County staff recommended that the commission adopt the City of Lakeport’s mitigation monitoring and reporting program and approve the shoreline permit and variances.

The project, as presented by Michelle Iris, Lake County resource planner, would place a customer dock about 230 feet long and an adjacent 150-foot fuel dock in the lake. Scott Webb, Lake County water resources technician, told commissioners the work would be limited to an October 15–December 31 construction window set by California Fish and Wildlife to protect the Clear Lake hitch, a state-listed, locally endemic fish species. The docks would be supported by concrete pads and pilings and include ten mooring spaces for rental boats; the fuel trailer would be operated only by trained employees and stored off the shoreline in winter.

Why this matters: the site sits on the lakeside portion of a parcel split by Lakeshore Boulevard and directly across from Lakeport Unified School District facilities. The shoreline and biological protections of county Chapter 23 apply even though the city served as lead CEQA agency for the overall development. The county’s review focused on shoreline habitat, water quality, and impacts to tules (riparian wetland plants) and the Clear Lake hitch.

County and city coordination and mitigation County staff told the commission that the City of Lakeport prepared an initial study and mitigated negative declaration as lead agency and revised that document in response to comments from county water resources staff and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Michelle Iris said county staff acted as a CEQA responsible agency for the shoreline entitlements and recommended adoption of the city’s mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) without modification. The staff report and attachments include a draft revegetation plan that calls for invasive removal and planting at a 3:1 ratio, with success criteria and annual monitoring reports to the county and CDFW.

Design changes and species protections Iris and Webb said design changes requested during review — notably extending the customer dock and separating fuel operations onto a distinct fuel dock — were intended to reduce impacts to tules and the hitch. Staff estimated the proposed shoreline work would remove roughly 508 square feet of riparian habitat and 3 square feet of aquatic habitat; revegetation in adjacent areas was proposed to replace more tules than would be lost. The county’s condition set requires implementation of the revegetation plan, annual monitoring, and adherence to the CDFW-prescribed work window.

Public comment and concerns Brandon Disney, president of Disney Boat Rentals, described the family business and said the company bought the lakeside property in 2021 and designed the project to avoid removing oak trees. Disney said the fuel trailer would be moved off the shoreline for refueling and that docks and corner buoys would have solar lighting; he said the company would add buoys if required. Scott Webb said the lake depth at the customer dock would be about 3.5 feet at 0 Rumsey, and that the operator plans to use outboard motors to accommodate shallow water.

Several residents raised concerns during the public comment period. Dr. Eric Woycek, who identified himself as a local resident and energy professional, asked for traffic and air-quality analysis and said he believed the environmental document lacked some detail. Other residents, including Margo Kambara and Gary Riesen, urged wider environmental review and asked who would enforce and monitor the revegetation measures; Kambara suggested the county include local environmental groups in future request-for-review circulation. County staff and the applicant each said the revegetation plan includes measurable success criteria, and staff confirmed Audubon was included in the county’s request for agency review.

Commission action and appeals After deliberation the commission voted to adopt the mitigation monitoring and reporting program, approve the variance requests from the specified sections of the county shoreline ordinance, and grant the lakebed encroachment permit for the Disney Boat Rentals project. Staff reminded the applicants that the shoreline ordinance provides a seven-calendar-day appeal period to the Board of Supervisors.

What remains Conditions of approval require implementation of the adopted MMRP, the county’s revegetation and monitoring measures, and compliance with the CDFW-prescribed construction window intended to protect the Clear Lake hitch. The permit also includes standard appeal rights; the applicant or any interested person may file an appeal within seven days.