HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #21 (Schifferle)1
Laura Dabe
Subject:FW: Tahoe Donner Marina Expansion Plans
From: Patricia Schifferle [mailto:pacificadvocates@hotmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2013 9:32 AM
To: Stephen Ramos
Subject: Tahoe Donner Marina Expansion Plans
Dear Steve,
I write to express concern over how TDA is attempting to circumvent the Town of Truckee zoning and development rules
by not disclosing their real purpose of the Tahoe Donner Association Marina plans which are proposing to excavate,
trench and remove a significant portion almost half of the native trees to add lights and an expanded lawn at a facility
that is basically open in daylight hours.
I urge you to take a look at the public comments. There is extensive trenching excavation on slopes greater than 20%
and tree removal proposed for the Tahoe Donner Association Marina. Additionally the project proposes to remove of
most of the water craft—kayaks, paddle boards, windsurfers, rowing shells‐‐staging area the existing lawn next to the
boat ramp. Many of us use this existing lawn area to stage our rowing shells—6 now each 25 feet long. We share it with
the paddle board folks who drop their boards off etc. The state purpose of the project is access and yet removing this
existing lawn staging area and replacing it with glass wind shields and a “dining terrace” deck eating area, will actually
impede access to the lake.
There is a group of us—swimmers, kayakers, paddle boards, rowing shells and fishing boats that use the site before the
9 or 9:30 winds arrive…then the folks arrive to use the beach, swim and boat….then in the afternoon as the winds really
pick up the sail boards use the existing lawn area along with sailboats to sail on Donner Lake…usually after the water
skiers have left. There is a natural progression of use that follows the weather at Donner Lake. In the evenings many of
us ride our own bikes around the lake to return to walk along the beach or picnic on the beach.
The proposed project seems to be designed to create an event center…TDA is already advertizing for weddings. See
below—potentially closing access to property owners—to Tahoe Donner residents for such “events.” If you take a look
at the public comments & the State Land lease to access Donner Lake, the boat ramps and swimming area you can see
the SLC lease requires equitable public access to the lake and these state leased facilities.
I am afraid the comments from many of us at Tahoe Donner have fallen on deaf ears. The existing management seems
determined to create an event center capacity at a place where the primary purpose is access to Donner lake for water
sports. If the true purpose is to expand the eating deck some….this could be done while leaving half the turf or existing
lawn staging area. If staff do not like the upkeep of the lawn, permeable artificial turf could be an alternative while still
giving water craft and swimmers a place to drop their stuff off before finding a parking space.
If there is truly a problem with access to the upper picnic terrace, there is an existing entrance [driveway like that staff
use] that could be renovated with reserved disabled placard parking. Such a solution would avoid all the excavating and
damage to the native vegetation. TDA staff have indicated there would not be food service, but there is not food service
there now. It is a picnic area. Do we really need to remove all these trees to create another lawn area. The TDA has a
number of areas where a picnic area can be established without so much impact to the Donner Lake are where
swimming, boating, fishing and water sports are the primary use. There is existing disabled access to the existing snack
bar and lower lawn, beach and ramp.
As you know the site is heavily used—some 40,000 for the approximate 4 month period. Peak usage hitting some 1000
on a peak weekend day according to TDA figures, putting considerable strain on the Town of Truckee residents and
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neighbors. This upper picnic area is used some and the existing trees are a respite from the sun, wind and the beach. I
do not think grading and bulldozing the area is the answer. As you can see from the public comments provided to the
Planning Commission from the Sierra Club’s certified arborist and the California Native Plant Society, the extensive
grading and electrical installations will likely kill off many of the remaining trees and limit the success of any new
planting. The certified arborist also disputes TDA’s disease tree assessment.
I hope you can weigh in with a reduced project that would not impact our access to Donner Lake or add further impacts
to the lake and nearby Donner Creek. I did submit a comment letter. I think the Planning Staff are doing a good job of
trying to rein in these TDA expansion plans to be compatible with a residential area and next to a State Park. Hopefully
you and the other Planning Commissioners will put some real teeth to Truckee’s existing zoning requirements to protect
this scenic icon that is Donner Lake and some of its natural surroundings. It’s beginning to feel like the existing
management at Tahoe Donner views compliance with zoning and environmental rules as a pesky annoyance rather than
a set of rules to help make our town livable. Maybe with your help we will not sully the very place that draws us all to
live in such an amazing place.
Typically at Planning Commission hearings, there is a requirement for the applicant to show they are fully in compliance
with existing state statutes prior to proceeding with a new CUP. In this particular situation there appear a number of
irregularities from storm water controls to state trespass issues. As someone who has lived in Truckee for over a
decade, being good neighbors to the community is an important value to me. Hopefully these violations can be
remedied before the project is permitted to proceed.
Regards,
Patty Schifferle
530 550 0219
If you look at the public comments for this project, included in my comment letter is a copy of the 1974 lease,
which was recently modified under a 2010 CEQA exemption to expand uses to include the swimming float and
extension of the swimming area and to pay fines for trespass on state lands. Here is the reference to that
action. Also Liquor license was added in 2011. It appears from the Sierra Club comment letter there are
ongoing trespass violations of not only the lease provisions, but public access.
http://archives.slc.ca.gov/Meeting_Summaries/2010_Documents/12‐10‐10/Items_and_Exhibits/C36.pdf And
TDA’s 1974 lease provisions: Provision 13: [Rules and Regulations]] one can see the lease requires TDA to
“observe and comply with all rules and regulations now or hereafter promulgated by any agency of the State of
California and…at all times take necessary precautions to prevent pollutions and contamination of the
environment …. “Any modifications of natural or existing features of the real property described in this lease,
including but not limited to the removal of timber and other flora, which are inconsistent with the authorized
uses under this lease are expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Lessor;..” Provision 14,
“….In no event does this lease authorize construction or excavation activity which causes disturbance of any
kind in the waters of Donner Lake.”
This is what was on TDA’s website March 2013 advertizing for wedding events at the Marina:
Beach Club Marina (TD members and guests only) $1,000 $800
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Available only to those also holding a reception, luncheon or dinner. Fees include natural arbor and chairs.
Tahoe Donner Association is a hidden gem set right above the heart of Truckee. Not only can you have your
wedding here, you can offer yours guests the perfect vacation.
For more information or to plan your event, call group sales at (530) 582-9643.
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http://www.tahoedonner.com/weddings/rates/