Many concerned citizens in Lakeport and elsewhere in the county are aware of the Cristallago project (1200 units and a golf resort northwest of the city), but other development proposals by the same group of developers (Matt Boeger's Boeger Land Development from Grass Valley and environs, Mark Mitchell's Origin Homes from Fort Bragg, and facilitator Jim Burns, also from Fort Bragg) have so far received little publicity.

These developers also want to build a completely separate megasubdivision (600-2500 units) with yet another 18-hole golf course on city-owned land near the junction of highways 29 and 175 that is presently under county jurisdiction and occupied by the city's sewage treatment plant. In all probability, annexation by the city would be needed for this scheme to proceed. At the same time, they are negotiating to acquire the city's Dutch Harbor property (on the lakefront near downtown Lakeport) to construct a luxury hotel: acquisition of the Natural High property, possibly by eminent domain, would be needed to make that dream a reality. A petition demanding that the Natural High site be preserved in perpetuity as public open space is now circulating.

In the meantime, expansion of Lakeport's sewer facilities has not kept pace with demand; rather than connect with the county's Full Circle project the city is exploring the idea of constructing an advanced tertiary-treatment plant -- with the possibility of discharging treated effluent into the lake itself.

Possible legal issues include Brown Act violations and circumvention of CEQA requirements; political considerations may encompass increased sewage costs imposed on present ratepayers, outrage at the use of eminent domain to seize school property, and loss of public lakeshore access. Inappropriate land use patterns, interference with the Lake County's only airport, degradation ofwater quality, and a host of other environmental issues are are also certain to arise.

For a more detailed discussion of these issues check the archives at Lake County News or click here.

Letters to the Editor

Record-Bee article of December 28, 2006

Record-Bee article of June 23, 2007

Precis of City Council minutes relating to these subjects.

City Council discusses eminent domain (Lake County News, January 10)

Relations between Mayor Parmentier and developer Jim Burns (Lake County News, January 10)

Lake County News sewer moratorium story (January 20)

Golf course consultant Dale Neiman proposes Lakeport General Plan changes (Lake County News, February 12)

August 25, 2006 Special Session City Council minutes (pdf)