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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Bay Area firm seeking to purchase and renovate Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa received the Lake County Planning Commission's unanimous approval of its plans at a Thursday morning meeting.
The commission approved a mitigated negative declaration, a major use permit and shoreline variance for Resort Equities LLC's renovation plans for the Kelseyville resort, once the county's top resort destination, which has been closed since November 2009.
Resort Equities President Grant Sedgwick spoke to the commission about the project and what he hopes it can do to improve Lake County's tourism and enhance its reputation.
“I'm very excited about it,” Sedgwick said of the resort renovation plan.
About 60 people were on hand for the two-hour meeting at the Lake County Courthouse.
During the course of the meeting, additional mitigations suggested for the project – having an American Indian monitor on site for any ground work, including demolition; requiring the resort to participate in the invasives mussel prevention program; and planting of tules to help filter runoff in an undeveloped shoreline area slated for new buildings – were added by staff.
“They're all reasonable,” Resort Equities President Grant Sedgwick said of the requests for the additional measures following the meeting.
Principal Planner Kevin Ingram, who along with Community Development Director Rick Coel has worked on processing Resort Equities' application, called it a “wonderful but complicated” project.
Ingram noted he's fielded about 50 calls or visits to his office from people interested in the plans for Konocti Harbor. “A vast majority of those have been positive.”
The plans call for demolishing 121 of the 261 existing lodging units, renovating another 150 units as well as the main lodge and pool areas, building a new 75-unit hotel building adjacent to the pool and 15 two-story fourplexes for another 60 units along a currently undeveloped area of shoreline near the amphitheater.
At full buildout, the 90-acre property – of which about 58 acres is developed – will have 164 timeshare or fractional ownership units, Ingram said, along with a new waterside bar and grill, greater shoreline pedestrian access, more parking, 275 boat slips (currently there are 100), five piers and docks will be repaired, there will be an expanded system of piers and docks, and the amphitheater will be renovated.
Coel said the plans call for extending docks and amenities out into the lake, with the proposal including allowing the new party deck near the main lodge to be 35 feet high, rather than the 20 feet limit.
In explaining the shoreline ordinance variance, Coel noted, “Staff feels strongly that the variance findings can be made because of the uniqueness of this site, the prominence of it and the lack of public access to this whole region of Clear Lake.”
Ingram said that in September when the project first came in, county staff organized a site visit with a number of local and state agencies, which he said was a great experience.
“It was a great amount of knowledge that came out of that. The applicant was receptive to it,” he said, with an updated project application from Resort Equities working in suggestions from the meeting.
Commissioner Olga Martin Steele asked about lake impacts, increased sediments and fish spawning areas.
Coel said the shoreline improvements will consist of utilizing existing pilings. “That significantly minimizes the impact to the lakebed,” he said, adding that the resort has been developed and used for lake access facilities for 40 to 50 years.
Steele wanted to know if fish spawned in the area. Coel said the county had received no information from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or Department of Water Resources about whether there are spawning beds along Konocti Harbor's shoreline.
He said the water in that area is deeper, with spawning beds tending to be in shallow lake areas near tules. The dock structures provide shade that is beneficial to some species.
Explaining the project
Sedgwick said the plan includes job creation, positive economic impacts and entertainment.
He said that the project success and the county's are tied together. Lake County's tourism is suffering when compared to other areas and the resort is an important element in putting a rebuilding process in place.
Tourism in Lake County has only increased 55 percent since 1992, which Sedgwick said isn't even keeping up with inflation. Meanwhile, in neighboring counties such as Napa and Sonoma, tourism has increased more than 200 percent in that same timeframe.
“There is a bit of a perception problem about the lake itself and Lake County,” he said. “It isn't warranted.”
Sedgwick said he and business partner Richard Ragatz sent out an email survey to 17,000 people in a Konocti Harbor customer database. Out of those, they received 3,000 replies, which he called an “overwhelming” response.
Of those who had responded, more than 70 percent had stayed in the resort's lodging facilities, about 90 percent had attended a concert and 94 percent had an overall favorable experience, Sedgwick said.
Because of seasonality, it’s important to have varying types of ownership – including partial and timeshare – underpinning the real estate, Sedgwick said, explaining that the resort historically had occupancy of less than 40 percent.
Sedgwick said they could spend up to $90 million on the project's renovation plans. They don't yet have that amount raised, and are still in the process of working on financing. The planning commission's support, he added, would be important in the process.
“It's hard to summarize all the things I’m feeling about this project in just a couple of minutes,” he said.
Commission Chair Bob Malley said Konocti Harbor had always comprised four to five cylinders of the county's eight-cylinder economy, and he was glad to see someone stepping up to take it over.
Community speaks on project
Despite the large crowd, only a handful of people spoke on the project, mostly to ask questions and to request additional mitigations.
County staff also answered questions from some nearby residents who wondered if the additional undeveloped land is to have any building activity – there's no such proposal – and if lighting mitigations will be in place, with Malley noting that lighting rules have changed since the resort was open.
Archaeologist Dr. John Parker of the Lake County Historical Society said the resort was in a highly sensitive area and a registered archaeologist should work alongside an American Indian monitor to observe ground disturbing activities anywhere on the property.
Coel said there were no identified archaeological sites in the vicinity that required an entire archaeological study. He said 90 percent of the property has been surveyed but the undeveloped area along the shoreline where the fourplexes are proposed to be built hadn't been surveyed, so they added the monitor requirement.
Coel said they are trying to provide a level of protection, and from a business standpoint it makes a lot of sense to do an archaeological study before doing earthwork. “This project is on a constrained timeline and we really need to get this done.”
Jack Long, the county's economic development manager, read into the record the county's support for the project.
“Staff is pleased to see Resort Equities' commitment and dedication to the project,”Long said.
Konocti Harbor was a premier destination in the county, and its closure caused ripples across the county's economy, Long said. Its return would provide a boost to the economy and the plans include all of the elements the county believes would make it successful.
Victoria Brandon, on behalf of the Sierra Club Lake Group, said there needed to be included in the project conditions a requirement that the resort adheres to the county's invasive mussel prevention program. She also suggested a tule replanting project along the resort's lakeshore would attract wildlife.
She said she was delighted that Sedgwick recognizes the perception problem – not the reality problem – for Lake County, and said the renovated resort could be the kind of first class operation that helps address that perception.
Sarah Ryan, environmental director for Big Valley Rancheria, also urged the commission to keep a tribal monitor present for any ground disturbance in the entire project area. She also wanted language included in the project requirements relating to species of special concern such as the Clear Lake hitch, which is now being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
During commission discussion, Steele said she liked adding additional mitigations such as the tule plantings, but Coel said that under the California Environmental Quality Act there need to be impacts identified in order to require mitigations.
Malley said that the nexus is that additional runoff will result once buildings are placed on the undeveloped shoreline area, and he suggested they add a provision for placing tule beds in the area to filter runoff.
Coel asked for a brief break so he and Ingram could come back with some modified language in the permit requirements.
The changes presented to the commission included requiring Resort Equities to enter into an agreement with Lake County Water Resources to become a participant in the invasive mussels prevention program prior to operating the resort.
The firm also must provide a tule planting plan to the Water Resources Department for review and approval prior to the issuance of the building permits for the fourplexes on the shoreline. The tules should be planted within six months of the completion of the units.
In addition, Resort Equities shall provide the county with an archaeological reconnaissance study that will include the areas of existing development where demolition is proposed.
Malley asked if Sedgwick was amenable, and Ingram said yes.
Commissioner Gil Schoux made the three separate motions to approve the mitigated negative declaration as amended, grant the use permit and find that the request for a variance from the shoreline ordinance met the requirements. All three motions were approved unanimously.
“Konocti, get moving,” said Malley, with the audience giving a round of applause to the vote.
After the meeting, Ingram told Lake County News that once a seven day period during which appeals can be filed is over, Resort Equities could come in and begin filing for building permits. But he didn't expect that would happen just yet.
Sedgwick told Lake County News that the sale is anticipated to close the first or second week of March 2014.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted Wednesday morning resulted in the arrest of Clearlake man and the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Brett Alan Miller, 48, was arrested following the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday a patrol deputy was traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Lucerne when he noticed a vehicle traveling in front of him that was in violation of the California Vehicle Code. Brooks said the deputy conducted an enforcement stop in the area of Highway 20 and 7th Avenue in Lucerne.
The deputy asked the driver – identified as Miller – to see his driver’s license. Miller said it had been suspended. Brooks said Central Dispatch ran a records check of Miller and confirmed his driving privilege was in fact suspended.
A K9 unit arrived and assisted with the enforcement stop. Brooks said the K9 deputy deployed his partner to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. As the canine approached the passenger side of the vehicle, she produced a positive alert, indicating there was the odor of a controlled substance present.
The deputy conducted a search of the vehicle and located a small metal container in the rear pouch of the right front passenger seat, according to Brooks.
He said the deputy opened the container and located a plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance he recognized to be methamphetamine.
In the same pouch next to the metal container, Brooks said the deputy also located a glass pipe which is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.
Miller was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and for driving while his license is suspended or revoked. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A 3.7-magnitude earthquake hit near the Angwin area late Thursday.
The earthquake was recorded at 10:44 p.m. at a depth of 6.3 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.
It was located seven miles north northeast of Angwin and 22 miles southeast of Clearlake, the survey said.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Robinson Rancheria's tribal chair, who was facing trial for grand theft for allegedly embezzling more than $60,000 from another local tribe, has died.
Tracey Avila, 52, of Nice died following several months of declining health, according to her attorney, Justin Petersen of Ukiah.
Petersen said he was notified by Avila's family on Thursday morning of her death.
He did not know when she died or the exact cause of death, but confirmed she had a number of ongoing health concerns, including diabetes.
“She was recovering from a stroke but had a number of other medical issues, primarily kidney failure,” he said. “I think the combination of those issues just got the best of her.”
Avila was facing trial for having allegedly taken the money while working as Elem’s fiscal officer from February 2006 to September 2008.
Elem began the investigation before requesting federal assistance, with the investigation later assumed by the EPA Office of the Inspector General and U.S. Housing and Urban Development's Office of the Inspector General.
Avila was arrested for felony grand theft in September 2011.
Court proceedings in Avila's case had run into numerous delays.
Her preliminary hearing was rescheduled and delayed until October 2012, when Judge Andrew Blum ordered her to stand trial for the charge.
Trial dates also were repeatedly set and reset, with the defense requesting four continuances of the trial earlier this year, according to Deputy District Attorney Rachel Abelson, who was handling Avila's prosecution.
Avila was last in court Aug. 13, Abelson said. That same month, delays due to Avila's health problems began, and continued into October and November.
On Nov. 13 the District Attorney's Office was told Avila would be in a rehabilitation hospital until next spring, said Abelson.
Petersen said that last delay followed his receipt of a note from Avila's doctor saying that she would be in no condition to continue with the court proceedings until at least April of next year.
As a result, the case had been scheduled to return to court on March 11, 2014, for resetting of the trial date, Petersen said.
Despite the criminal case against her and her health issues, Avila had managed to remain tribal chair.
During her tenure as chair, Avila disputed a June 2008 tribal election that she lost to EJ Crandell, and maintained her seat after the election was thrown out.
Later that same year, she oversaw the disenrollment of dozens of members of the Quitiquit family, who had supported Crandell in the disputed election.
Under her leadership the tribal council also moved forward last year with evictions of several Quitiquit family members from homes on the rancheria. The evictees argued that they resided in homes they contracted to purchase through a federally funded, low-income housing program, not the tribe.
This past January, during another set of evictions, a fight broke out between tribal members and law enforcement who were on the rancheria on standby, with several tribal members arrested afterward.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
COBB, Calif. – A 3.4-magnitude quake was recorded early Thursday morning near The Geysers geothermal steamfield.
The quake occurred at 2:57 a.m. at a depth of 1.7 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.
It was centered one mile northwest of The Geysers and 13 miles southwest of Clearlake, the survey reported.
Another 3.4-magnitude quake occurred near The Geysers on Nov. 14, the survey reported.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Five high schools, eight youth oriented programs and three other nonprofit organizations will share the $90,000 raised this year from September's Lake County Wine Auction.
The funds were distributed Wednesday evening at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville.
This year, education was the emphasis.
“Our commitment to this critical area will ensure that Lake County grows as a strong and healthy community for the next generation,” said Kaj Ahlmann, president of the Lake County Wine Alliance.
The Wine Alliance, is a nonprofit organization of wineries, winegrape growers, vineyard owners, related businesses and community supporters and sponsor of the Wine Auction.
Since its founding in 2000, the Wine Alliance has raised $1,081,302 to foster the arts, benefit health services and otherwise support the Lake County community.
Applications are now being accepted for proceeds from the next year's auction, to be held on Sept. 20, 2014.
The 2013 Auction, the 14th, took place at the Cole Creek Equestrian Center in Kelseyville, a special venue which contributed not only to successful fundraising but also to the promotion of Lake County as not only a premier wine region but also a community of diverse agriculture.
This venue was so popular that the auction board has chosen it for the 2014 event as well.
The honorary chairs for the 2013's Wine Auction were John and Joanne VanEck, the owners of Cole Creek Equestrian. They were assisted by committee co-chairs Judy Luchsinger of Lakeport and Sharron Zoller of Kelseyville.
The event's success this year would not have been possible without the support of valued sponsors: Mendo Lake Credit Union, Calpine, Six Sigma Ranch, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Kathy Fowler Chevrolet, Bella Vista Farming, John C. Clarke, Shannon Ridge Winery, The Savings Bank of Mendocino, Umpqua Bank, Ceago Vineyard and Winery, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Brassfield Estate Vineyard & Winery and the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
The board of directors of the Lake County Wine Alliance wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year's success possible. Their support is deeply appreciated, not only by the alliance but by its beneficiaries as well.
The proceeds for 2013 were distributed as follows.
The Arts ($30,000)
- $6,000, Lower Lake High School
- $6,000, Kelseyville High School
- $6,000, Upper Lake High School
- $6,000, Clearlake High School
- $6,000, Middletown High School
Health and community ($32,000)
- $2,700, Clearlake Performing Arts youth programs
- $1,000, Yuba College Culinary Club
- $1,500, Friends of the Lake County Museum Student Outreach Program
- $1,600, Lake County Literacy Task Force Imagination Library
- $1,600, Lake County Boy Scouts Wreaths Across America
- $1,500, MDSC Boy Scouts (Cut Scout Day Damp)
- $1,600, LC Council of Church Women United Shoes and Socks Program
- $3,500, Operation Tango Mike
- $15,000, Lake County Office of Education Taylor Observatory
- $15,000, Lake County 4-H
- $15,000, People Services