Thursday, 28 March 2024

Rosenthal: Planning commission to discuss Dollar General store design review permit

The Lake County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the design review permit for the Middletown Dollar General retail store.

Cross Development, builder for Dollar General retails stores, has applied for the design review permit on behalf of Dollar General.

The public hearing will take place at the planning commission meeting in Lakeport on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m.

Why is this project going before the Planning Commission again?

On April 28, the Lake County Planning Commission denied Cross Development’s major use permit application to build the 9,100-square-foot store at 20900 Highway 29 in Middletown just north of the Jolly Kone. It was a unanimous vote after almost two and a half hours of discussion and public input.

The applicant, Joe Dell with Cross Development, filed an appeal to the Board of Supervisors immediately following the April hearing.

On July 19, the Board of Supervisors heard the appeal. After a four-hour hearing of public testimony and discussion, the supervisors voted 3-2 in favor of the applicant, thereby granting the appeal. Supervisors Jim Comstock, Jeff Smith and Jim Steele voted in favor of the appeal; Rob Brown and Anthony Farrington voted to deny the appeal.

On Thursday, the design review permit will be heard at the planning commission meeting. The Planning commissioners, serving as the design review committee, will be tasked with making design decisions in compliance with the Middletown Area Plan.

Audrey Knight, principal planner with the county of Lake, commented about the process in an email following the Board of Supervisors' July meeting: "The PC (Planning Commission) has to make the findings that it fits within the character of the community. They can propose or require design changes to ensure that the building and site plan conform.”

The public hearing for the design review permit for the Dollar General retail store will be held in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, located at 255 N. Forbes St.

Public comment will be heard, but will be limited to the “design review” of the Dollar General retail store.

Why is public comment important at the design review hearing on Aug. 25?

The Middletown Area Plan was adopted in 2010. Since that time, due to the recession, there has been little to no business development in Middletown. This is the first new building to be constructed under the Middletown Area Plan guidelines. Design input in regard to this project may influence or effect future projects.

The staff report will be available ahead of the planning commission meeting at the Community Development Department at the courthouse in Lakeport.

Michalyn DelValle, senior planner, Lake County Community Development Department, is handling this project. DelValle may be contacted at 707-263-221 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Thank you for your interest and for caring about the future of Middletown.

Monica Rosenthal lives in Middletown, Calif. She is a candidate for the District 1 supervisorial seat on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

071816 Middletown Dollar General rendering by LakeCoNews on Scribd

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