Clearlake Planning Commission discusses proposed Austin Resort property sale
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – During a special meeting last week, the Clearlake Planning Commission discussed the proposed sale of the former Austin Resort property to a developer.
In March, the Clearlake City Council gave City Manager Alan Flora approval to sign a letter of intent with Bailey Building and Loans LLC, which wants to build a resort on the property, as Lake County News has reported.
The former resort property includes two parcels totaling 7.68 acres located at 14061 and 14071 Lakeshore Drive, across from Clearlake City Hall.
City staff took the matter to the commission in order for it to consider whether or not the sale is consistent with the city’s general plan. Staff reported they have found it to be compliant.
Flora told the commission that one of the parcels was purchased by the city’s former redevelopment agency, the other is owned by the city.
There were some plans to develop a waterfront trail along part of it, however, when the city got interest from the developer for this larger project, Flora said staff decided to recommend selling both properties.
He said the intention is to maintain access by the public to the lakeshore.
Flora’s written and verbal reports to the commission noted that the project will be a “large resort-type development,” including a hotel, restaurant, retail and a large marina, and may possibly boat ramps.
“This is a great potential project,” he said.
Flora said the commission’s finding of general plan compliance was the first step in moving the sale forward.
It must also be approved by the city council and the redevelopment oversight committee. Flora said that if those approvals go through, the city would begin working more actively with the developer in establishing its plan.
He said the project also would have to come back before the commission for approval of the use permit.
Flora said the developer is looking at three years before the project is fully developed. The marina portion of the work will require US Army Corps of Engineers permits, which generally take a significant period of time.
Commissioner Lisa Wilson asked Flora about the wording in the letter of intent regarding possible consideration of a lease or license agreement for an adjoining city property.
Flora explained that it refers to Austin Beach. He said the developer wants the project to be a destination and had asked the city if it would be interested in selling Austin Beach.
He said they told the developer that’s probably not going to happen but that the city would consider a lease or licensing agreement. The developer has an interest in making physical site improvements to the beach so it seems like part of the whole resort property, even though it would remain under the city’s ownership.
Wilson said the intention to maintain waterfront access for the public in perpetuity “super.”
Commissioner Robert Coker asked about a roundabout mentioned in the plans and what that would entail.
“We don’t know at this point,” said Flora, explaining that the city initially had started planning for a roundabout at Lakeshore and Olympic Drive. “We kind of put that hold over the last year.”
Flora said they instead tried to focus on finding funding for curb, gutter and sidewalks along Lakeshore Drive.
The developer likes the idea of a possible roundabout there as it would create a focal point entrance into the resort property. Flora said it hasn’t been determined on what that may look like but the developer asked for language in the purchase agreement to speak to that.
Flora said there is some funding that the city could acquire to fund part of the project and that the developer would be expected to participate in the project cost as well.
Chair Richard Bean asked if it’s negotiable that the project should contribute to the roundabout. Flora said yes, that it could be included in the developer impact fee.
Bean also aksed about a requested provision by the developer for the police department to provide additional scrutiny or oversight. “Why was the police department mentioned in that letter of intent?”
Flora said it speaks to the fact that Clearlake’s history of crime still “is out there,” and the developer wants to make sure they have a safe environment and that the city is committed to the project.
Wilson moved to adopt the resolution, which was adopted 4-0. Commissioner Erin McCarrick recused herself from the vote.
Flora told the commission that there likely are going to have several more general plan conformity reports coming up as the city tries to push properties that have been sitting for decades and getting some investment going.
He said he appreciated the commission being flexible and holding the special meeting, as does the developer, as timelines for such projects take a while.
In addition to the special meeting, the city council will have its own upcoming special meeting on the project and the oversight committee has been asked to meet to consider the sale proposal on June 8, Flora said.
Those special meetings will carve off about a month’s worth of time in the effort to move the project forward, he said.
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