Tuesday, March 20, 2007 • Public hearing on annexation of property moved to March 21 meeting

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, March 20, 2007 edition of the Lassen County Times.

With two councilmembers abstaining and one absent, the Susanville City Council did not have a quorum to finish conducting a public hearing on the proposed annexation of 20 acres.

The 20 acres is located south of the old city dumpsite on South Street and southwest to Maurino Manor Subdivision that lies adjacent to Diamond View School on Richmond Road.

Mayor Lino Callegari abstained because relatives own property near the proposed Hughes/Peavey Annexation and Mayor Pro tem Rocky Joy abstained because he owns property in the area.

Councilmember Kurt Bonham was absent.

With only Councilmembers Rod DeBoer and Doug Sayers being able to participate, the public hearing was continued to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 21.

At its Tuesday, Feb. 13 meeting the City Planning Commission determined the parcel could be annexed into the city, with the details of development being worked out at a later date.

Owners Clifford Hughes and Brian Peavey requested their 20-acre parcel be brought into the city and be changed to AR-1 zoning, which allows for one-half acre minimum lot sizes or a maximum of 40 dwellings on the parcel when it is developed.

At the planning commission public hearing the main topic of discussion was providing access to the currently landlocked parcel. The commission found that since there is a potential for providing access to the parcel at a future date over three possible routes or more when development is proposed, that there is no need to provide access at this time because the parcel is vacant.

There is access for fire protection vehicles, which is the only service needed on the parcel until development occurs.

According to the written staff report presented by Community Development Director Bill Nebeker the purpose of the city council’s public hearing is to answer the question, can the parcel be annexed, not how it can be developed and where access will be provided.

He added, “Since there are feasible routes for access, the annexation conforms with LAFCo (Local Agency Formation Commission) policies and the prezoning is appropriate for the area …”

“The fiscal impact has not been quantified at this time,” the report read, “but since the parcel is zoned for lower density residential uses and above moderate-income homes will likely be constructed on the parcel (sic), generally there will be a future positive impact to general fund from increased property taxes.”