Commission approves safe-parking program with changes after heated neighborhood debate

The Clearlake Planning Commission on Sept. 29 approved CE2026-08, a conditional-use permit allowing Catholic Charities to operate a safe-parking program at 14490 Jewel/Yule/Oakland Avenue, subject to the staff-recommended conditions and one amendment: vehicle removal for abandoned or disabled vehicles was changed from 24 hours to 48 hours by the commission.

Staff described the proposal as a temporary parking program that assigns participants a designated space and pairs them with case management to pursue permanent housing. "Temporary housing program that provides individuals and families that are experiencing housing instability with a safe place, secure and structured place to park overnight, while they're working towards securing permanent housing," the staff presenter said during the report. Conditions discussed include background checks, a neighbor-relations plan, proof of residency preference, maintenance of a roster of participants and site security/operations standards.

The public comment period drew neighbors who said the site is too close to residences and raised concerns about traffic, roads in poor condition, noise, and safety. "I accept that we need to help the homeless, but not in a residential," one neighbor said. Another resident said she feared having sex offenders or people using drugs near her daughter and urged the commission to require background checks.

Catholic Charities' Megan Murphy described operations and experience from Santa Rosa and urged flexibility to preserve a "housing-first" low-barrier approach that can make background checks problematic for some clients. "Our concern with the background is that these funds ask us to work in a way that's called housing first, which is as low barrier as possible," Murphy said; she also offered neighborhood meeting protocols and a site phone for immediate complaints.

Commissioners debated whether the municipal code's residency preference (proof of six months' residency in Lake County within the last two years) should be strictly enforced or interpreted to allow referrals through local homeless-service intake. Some commissioners pressed for clearer staffing and security formulas. The commission ultimately voted 3–2 to approve the permit as recommended by staff with the 48-hour amendment to the vehicle removal timeline.

What happens next: Staff will finalize permit language, incorporate the 48-hour removal amendment and work with Catholic Charities and the Continuum of Care to implement neighbor-notification and reporting procedures. The permit term is aligned with grant funding; extensions will depend on continued funding and compliance.