Blue Lake's annexation concerns By Matt Kapko Eye Reporter The Arcata Eye October 28, 2003 After a year of public meetings the Blue Lake Planning Commission held a joint session with the City Council on Oct. 21 to present a draft report on annexation. The city government’s desire for annexation is driven by the opportunity to influence land use and maintain the ability to offer water and sewer services to the parcels being considered. The draft annexation report also cites the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 as a reason for annexation. According to the report, the law doesn’t allow cities to provide services to parcels outside its boundaries without annexation. City Planner Bob Brown explained the pre-zoning recommendations made by the commission and offered reasons for some of the choices made during the process. Brown and City Manager Wiley Buck also addressed some of the issues that will need to be resolved before a final plan is presented to the Local Agency Formation Commission – the agency responsible for any boundary shifts from one public jurisdiction to another. Buck said Fire Chief Raymond Stonebarger informed him that some of the areas being considered for annexation will put a significant burden on the department. The Blue Lake Fire Department is responsible for structures in outlying areas, but in the case of brush fires, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will respond. Stonebarger is concerned that some of the densely forested areas being considered for annexation will pose unfamiliar strain on the department. Without the proper equipment for brush fires, the BLFD will be pressed to find other means of protecting those areas. Patricia Charley, owner of four parcels (totaling 73.9 acres) being considered for annexation, voiced her concern with the department’s ability to respond to brush fires in forested areas. Much of her land is heavily forested and designated as a Timber Production Zone. Charley said she is eager to hear a more detailed report from Stonebarger. Another concern for the city is that the county will most likely want the city to annex Blue Lake Boulevard (currently a county road) if it annexes areas on the other side of the thoroughfare, Brown said. Buck added that the major concern is with maintenance of the road. Planning Commissioner John Bartholomew said since the boulevard is a thoroughfare to Korbel, it would make sense for the county to keep control. He said the only reason annexation wouldn’t work is if the city acquired responsibility of Blue Lake Boulevard and Glendale Drive. However, City Councilmember Sherman Schapiro said if the city gains control it would be able to enforce speed limits more conducive to resident desires. “We can afford the police, but I’m not sure we can maintain the road,” he added. With the annexation draft completed, Brown told the council and commission he is now working on documents for the California Environmental Quality Act. “Personally, I’m impressed,” Mayor Dave Nakamura concluded. Downtown Element Lisa Spadoni, intern with the planning department, presented some updates that are being recommended as an amendment to the downtown element of the city’s General Plan. In the updates, Spadoni compiled information from a number of community visioning meetings held over the past five years and discussions she had with business owners in the downtown area. Suggestions for downtown include turning the city center into a village green, a closure of H Street, preserving historic architecture, and preservation of the historic lake area. In her research Spadoni found that most community members originally thought Blue Lake couldn’t support commerce, but now a strong majority want a commercial increase in downtown. Although there is also a large desire for open space in downtown, it will limit parking availability, Spadoni said. The report also recommends that the area designated as downtown be expanded to include nearby houses, Perigot Park, and the historic lake site. The general goal is to allow for more commercial business in downtown, Spadoni said. Home