Property owner says Clearlake staff added unexpected requirements to Lakeshore Drive permit

At the Clearlake City Council meeting, property owner Roopa Sheikhar described a months-long permitting exchange over 14525 Lakeshore Drive and said she met the city's stated deadline for structural engineer drawings and permit materials but that city staff later flagged additional requirements.

Sheikhar said she submitted structural-engineer drawings, architectural plans and the building-permit application and received code-enforcement clearance. "The packet included building permit application form, the permit fees, condition use permit form, which was really not needed because hoteling and restaurant is permitted as per the zoning," she said.

Sheikhar said the city came back 11 days after submission to question whether the property would be used for "vacation rentals and apartments," even though the plans described a hotel and restaurant. She said staff then requested interior design details, sprinkler and alarm plans, a recycle-enclosure plan, curved gutters and sidewalk fees, plus additional signatures from county organizations. "They questioned about why we are using it for vacation rentals and apartments, and that's why the conditions for it was required," she said.

Sheikhar said she provided three of four requested county signatures, revised the hoteling plan to add two rooms as requested, submitted trash-enclosure and parking materials, and was seeking clarity about remaining requirements. She concluded her remarks after the three-minute public-comment limit.

The council did not make a formal response during public comment; the city manager's later report referenced ongoing development reviews but did not provide a decision on Sheikhar's permit during the meeting.