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Clearlake planning commission approves permit for Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic at 14595 Olympic Drive
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Summary
The Clearlake Planning Commission on Aug. 9, 2022 approved a conditional use permit allowing the Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic to operate an outpatient facility at 14595 Olympic Drive. The unanimous vote followed staff presentation, public testimony from the clinic’s director and contractors, and discussion about curb/gutter, parking and cultural-resource conditions.
The Clearlake Planning Commission unanimously approved Resolution PC 2022-16 on Aug. 9, 2022 to authorize a conditional use permit (CUP 2022-13), sign permit (SGN 2022-04) and a categorical exemption (CE 2022-12) for the Mendo Lake Women’s Clinic to operate an outpatient facility at 14595 Olympic Drive, Suite C.
Mike Taylor, assistant planner, told the commission the clinic would occupy roughly 3,000 square feet of a 5,000-square-foot building and offer pregnancy testing, prenatal vitamins, ultrasound exams, consultations, STI testing and treatment, and an abortion-pill recovery treatment program. Staff said hours would initially be two days a week and move to three days per week, roughly 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., with up to five patients per day and four employees on site for a single shift. Staff found the project exempt from CEQA under Class 1 (Section 15301, existing facilities) and recommended adopting PC 2022-16 with standard conditions tied to building, signage and site permits.
Kathy Hoyt, chair of the board for the Center for Life Choices (the clinic’s funding agency), spoke for the applicant and described the clinic’s history, services and funding model. "The most significant difference between our facility and other clinics is that we offer our services at no cost to any of our patients," Hoyt said, and asked the commission to modify or relieve several boilerplate conditions (civil site plan, off-street parking/circulation plan, landscape and irrigation plan, trash-enclosure requirement, lighting plan and cultural-resource investigation) because most renovations would be interior and she said some conditions would add cost and delay.
Contractor Phil Skiles urged approval and said clinics had occupied the building in the past. Dave Hughes, representing property owner Ed Rourke, argued the city might not need a use permit for the proposed clinic because the building had previously housed an eye clinic; he described the $2,200 use-permit fee as an undue hardship and urged staff and the commission to reconsider whether a CUP was required.
Staff and the city manager replied that the city municipal code, as written and as previously adopted by the commission and council, requires a use permit for the proposed use. Staff also clarified several condition items: that curb, gutter and sidewalk exist along Olympic Drive and that the commission could determine whether to require improvements on the adjoining Buckeye Street; that an off-street parking and circulation plan is typically provided with building-permit submittal; and that a cultural-resource requirement could remain conditional on whether any ground disturbance occurs.
The commission conducted informal straw polls: several commissioners indicated they would not require curb and gutter on Buckeye Street given existing improvements on Olympic Drive; most supported foregoing an active cultural-resource investigation so long as there is no ground disturbance, while also making clear that cultural-resource mitigation would be required if ground-disturbing work occurs. Commissioners also favored keeping a landscaping plan requirement on file even if no changes were proposed.
After public comment and discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt Resolution PC 2022-16 approving CUP 2022-13, sign permit SGN 2022-04 and categorical exemption CE 2022-12 for the outpatient clinic at 14595 Olympic Drive; another commissioner seconded. The clerk called roll and the commission voted unanimously to approve the project (5–0).
Votes at a glance: Resolution PC 2022-16 (approving CUP 2022-13 / SGN 2022-04 / CE 2022-12) — Motion passed, roll-call vote 5–0 (Commissioner Williams: Aye; Commissioner Stewart: Aye; Commissioner McCarrick: Aye; Vice Chair Coker: Aye; Chair Wilson: Aye).
The commission’s adoption instructs the applicant to comply with the listed conditions of approval (building permits, signage permits, site plans and any cultural-resource work triggered by ground disturbance). Staff noted it is open to proposals for streamlining permit processes that would still preserve consistent development standards. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
