Friday, 29 March 2024

U Wanna Camp appeal to return to supervisors in August

LAKEPORT – The Board of Supervisors agreed on Tuesday to bring a property owner's appeal of a notice of violation for an RV park back in August for further discussion.


Teresa Thurman, owner of U Wanna Camp, located at 2699 Scotts Creek Road in Lakeport, appealed the September 2009 notice of violation served against the property by county officials.


Community Development Department staff told the board Tuesday that they issued the violation because of longterm occupancy of RV spaces at the campground, which has an expired use permit, as well as the use of the facility as a permanent living facility.


Last year the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to begin working on bringing into compliance resort and motel facilities that weren't adhering to their permitted uses, as Lake County News has reported.


Thurman's attorney, Steve Brookes, said that, for some reason, Thurman's RV park “floated to the top” of that group of businesses.


He said Thurman was trying to play by the rules, and that she also was working with the state department of Housing and Community Development, which he said doesn't work with such facilities if they're out of legal compliance.


Thurman said she has put a lot of money into the property, and she became tearful as she recounted obstacles she believed county staff had put in her way.


She said she had to do an expensive archaeological study, and then was told she needed to do a lot line adjustment.


Thurman said she wouldn't have put money into the property if she had been told it wasn't actually an RV park. “I don't buy mobile home parks and I don't buy campgrounds,” she said.


She suggested she was on a “hit list.”


“How did I end up No. 1?” she asked, telling the board that the county action to change her operations could result in her property being devalued to one-fourth of what it's worth.


When asked about her longterm vision for the property, Thurman said she never wanted it to be a mobile home park.


Board Chair Anthony Farrington assured Thurman she wasn't being singled out, and explained that there are a number of out-of-compliance properties that the county is considering.


Community Development Director Rick Coel offered to fast-track a new campground use permit for Thurman as one way of addressing the compliance issue.


Supervisor Rob Brown suggested there was more negotiation that needed to be conducted with Thurman over what should be done, adding that he didn't think the board could make a decision at that point.


Thurman said she may need to sue the county over the action, claiming that she can't make her payments if she isn't able to operate her property has it has been operated.


By bringing up the potential for litigation, “that triggers a whole different process to us,” said Farrington, who suggested that the litigation threat may need to be taken up in closed session.


Coel suggested the board could reject Thurman's appeal and have her apply for a new use permit. He said his department could then give her a three-year phaseout period to move from longterm residences to transient occupancy.


He noted the property is located in an important tourism area, at the gateway to Cow Mountain.


Brookes asked the board to continue the matter in order to allow him to look further at staff's proposals.


Farrington suggested to Thurman that work on the upcoming Lakeport Area Plan update might also help her and her permitting and zoning concerns.


The board agreed to bring the appeal back for further discussion and possibly a decision on Aug. 17.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

loader

LCNews

Award winning journalism on the shores of Clear Lake. 

 

Newsletter

Enter your email here to make sure you get the daily headlines.

You'll receive one daily headline email and breaking news alerts.
No spam.