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Board advances rezoning of three Lampson Field–adjacent parcels to align zoning with 2008 plan
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Summary
The Lake County Board of Supervisors on April 14 approved the first reading of ordinance PL25-101 and advanced the rezoning of three parcels north of Lampson Field in Lakeport from agricultural to Planned Development Commercial to match a 2008 General Plan designation; the action, advanced 4-0, drew public concern over process, LAFCO input and potential impacts to agriculture and the airport.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously April 14 to approve the first reading of ordinance PL25-101 and advance it to a second reading, moving three parcels at 4325, 4375 and 4425 Highland Springs Road in Lakeport from agricultural zoning to Planned Development Commercial to reflect an industrial land-use designation adopted in the county's 2008 General Plan.
Mary Clabon, senior planner with the county Community Development Department, told the board the parcels are adjacent to Lampson Field Airport, total about 50.67 acres, and were identified in the 2008 General Plan as industrial. Clabon said no specific project is proposed now, and any future development would require a general and specific plan of development with separate CEQA review.
Property owner Don Duker said he and his partner have farmed the land for decades but that the parcels have not been farmed for more than 15 years. Duker said correcting the zoning is necessary to allow the owners to consider development opportunities and to conform the zoning map to the previously adopted general-plan land-use map.
Several supervisors and public commenters urged caution about timing and process. Supervisor Allen and others said they were uncomfortable approving a rezone tied to a 2008 decision without more recent participation from agencies such as LAFCO and without updated airport land-use planning. Supervisor Sabatier said staff's presentation shows the change was adopted at the general-plan level in 2008 and the requested action is to make the zoning map consistent with that earlier decision.
Public commenters and members of the General Plan Advisory Committee questioned whether records exist proving the 2008 map-change implementation, whether the rezoning should wait for the Lake County 2050 update, and whether the rezoning could disadvantage agricultural uses. Planning staff noted agriculture remains allowed under PDC and that any project would be separately reviewed to ensure compatibility with airport operations and environmental rules.
County counsel read motions advancing the matter: a determination that no new significant environmental impacts are expected based on the adopted 2008 General Plan EIR, approval of the first reading of the ordinance (read in title only), and direction to advance the draft ordinance to the next Board meeting for second reading and possible adoption. All motions carried 4-0.
The board also asked staff to direct the Airport Land Use Committee to meet and discuss airport priorities going forward. Staff said the rezoning is a housekeeping step to align zoning with the earlier general-plan designation and that any new development would be subject to strict review, including airport-compatibility checks and separate CEQA analysis.
Next steps: the ordinance will return for a second reading and possible adoption at the board's next scheduled meeting. If adopted, the zoning correction will not itself authorize development; instead it will enable the property owners to pursue projects that would then be reviewed under the county's standard land-use and CEQA processes.
