LAKEPORT, Calif. – An appeal of a Lakeport Planning Commission decision to allow a cell phone tower on North High Street is back on the Lakeport City Council agenda on Tuesday, although the company proposing the project is seeking a continuance.
The council will meet for a closed session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, to discuss property negotiations for 910 Bevins St. before convening in open session at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
At its June 16 meeting, the council heard Nancy Ruzicka's appeal of the commission's approval in May of Complete Wireless Consulting's plan – which it submitted on behalf of Verizon Wireless – to install a cell phone tower at 1875 N. High St., as Lake County News has reported.
The 72-foot tower has been designed as “monopine” – which is meant to look like a pine tree.
Ruzicka, whose family owns the nearby High Street Village shopping center, and numerous residents of the nearby neighborhoods spoke against the project to the council, citing everything from health concerns to aesthetic impacts.
The council voted to continue the matter to July 7 and to have staff prepare potential findings to support the appeal.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram's report to the council explains that staff has prepared a resolution with findings for granting the appeal of Verizon's use permit and denying it, “based on the evidence, testimony, and comments” the council considered at the June 16 hearing.
However, Ingram also reported that Complete Wireless Consulting is requesting the council grant a 60-day continuance to thoroughly evaluate alternative designs and locations for the siting of a tower “to address the purported significant gap in coverage for the Central Lakeport area.”
The council could still decide to overturn the commission's decision or to request modifications of Verizon's proposal, according to Ingram's report.
Also on Tuesday, the council will meet new Administration Department intern Brittany Benner and present Finance Director Dan Buffalo with a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting given by the Government Finance Officers Association for the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
In other business, City Clerk Janel Chapman will take to the council a request to nominate a voting delegate and alternate voting delegates for the League of California Cities annual conference, to be held in San Jose this fall.
Community Development Director Kevin Ingram also will seek the council's authorization to send out a request for proposals for housing grant consulting services.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote – are ordinances; warrant registers from June 18 and July 1; and minutes from the special city council meeting of June 11 and the regular council meeting of June 16.
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Lakeport City Council to continue cell phone tower appeal hearing
- Elizabeth Larson
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