LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Planning Commission last week approved the general plan conformity of a countywide park project.
The commission discussed the Public Services Department’s parks improvement project, which involves 14 parks, during its brief meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27.
“This is kind of a fun project,” said Associate Planner Eric Porter.
In March, Caltrans announced that its Clean California Local Grant Program awarded $1,358,545 to the county of Lake for the Lake County Beautification Initiative Project, which includes a countywide marketing outreach and educational campaign, as Lake County News has reported.
Originally, the project was to have included 15 parks, however, Triangle Park in Nice was removed from the list.
“Triangle Park was removed from the scope of work because that property is not owned by the county of Lake, rather it is state highway right of way and the county maintains the property through a recurring encroachment permit to maintain existing landscaping,” Public Services Director Lars Ewing told Lake County News.
At the Oct. 27 meeting, Porter told the planning commissioners that they were only evaluating compliance with the general plan, the ninth chapter of which is dedicated to open space, conservation and recreation, specific to parks.
“The improvements are relatively minor,” and are taking place at parks that are already developed, Porter said.
Those improvements will include new bathrooms at two of the parks, new security systems at three other parks, as well as new signs, benches, trees, shade structures and trash receptacles, he reported.
Porter said that, in addition to evaluating them for general plan compliance, planning staff had looked at the individual parks’ compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, concluding that all can be exempted under existing facilities due to the small improvement proposed for each park.
Community Development Director Mireya Turner told the commission that Public Services hasn’t selected the tree species yet but will look for native, shade-generating trees.
At staff’s recommendation, the commission unanimously approved the project’s general plan conformity and a categorical exemption under CEQA.
The parks included in the project and their planned improvements are listed below.
CLEARLAKE OAKS
Clearlake Oaks boat launch: Two trash receptacles, two signs/murals, eight new trees, one drinking fountain, two concrete benches and one security system.
Nylander Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, two new trees, one drinking fountain, one shade structure and two concrete benches.
KELSEYVILLE
Kelseyville Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, five new trees, three drinking fountains, one shade structure and two concrete benches.
Lakeside Park: Six trash receptacles, six signs/murals, 25 new trees, four drinking fountains, three shade structures and five concrete benches.
Pioneer Park: One trash receptacle, one sign, two new trees and one drinking fountain.
LOWER LAKE
Russell Rustici Park: One drinking foundation and one shade structure.
LUCERNE
Alpine Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs/murals, five new trees, two drinking fountains, one shade structure and two concrete benches.
Davis Beach: One trash receptacle, one sign and one concrete bench.
Lucerne Harbor Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, five new trees, two drinking fountains, one shade structure and one concrete bench.
MIDDLETOWN
Middletown Square Park: One 160-square-foot bathroom, two trash receptacles, two signs, two new trees, one drinking fountain, one shade structure and three concrete benches.
NICE
Hammond Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, 20 new trees, three drinking fountains, one security system, three shade structures and four concrete benches.
Hinman Park: One 160-square-foot bathroom, two trash receptacles, two signs, three new trees, two drinking fountains, three concrete benches and one security system.
Keeling Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, four new trees, one drinking fountain, one security system, one shade structure and two concrete benches.
Rodman Slough Park: Two trash receptacles, two signs, five new trees, one shade structure and two concrete benches.
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Lake County Planning Commission discusses countywide parks improvement project
- Elizabeth Larson