HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #24 (Sullivan)April 14, 2013
TO: Town of Truckee Planning Division c/o Jenna Endres
FROM: Shaun and Suzanne Sullivan, Roundhill Dr. (Tahoe Donner), Truckee, CA
Owners since 1987, full-time residents since 2006
RE: April 16, 2013 Public Hearing Regarding the Tahoe Donner Marina Facility Improvement
Project
Please accept the following as our comments regarding the improvement of Tahoe Donner (TD)
marina space. We believe that the term “improvement” is misused in this context; the original and
revised proposal would not improve the TD facility itself, the ambiance of the Donner Lake
experience, or contribute to the welfare of the TD marina neighbors. We urge you to not allow this
project to move forward.
The TD marina space itself is too small for its current permitted use, no amount of “improvements”
will change that basic footprint. The proposed improvements appear to be cosmetic - a gloss to
perhaps, in some people’s eyes, make the space look better; they do not improve the basic function
of the space. Rather they create problems, such as:
¥ Natural beauty. There seems to be a mentality here that one must improve on Mother
Nature. The removal of trees for the sake of a walkway or a paved deck appears contrary to
the Sierra experience. Why would one come to the mountains with a beautiful lake and
then want to remove trees, reshape the earth, add pavement, walls and lights? Absurd.
¥ Good neighbors. Having lights in the plan only means one thing: night use. Donner Pass
Road residents already have to contend with noise, congestion, cars parked in their
driveways, and so on. And now we are going to add night lightening to their miseries. If the
campers in the State park get along without lights, why does TD need them?
¥ Environmental issues. Removal of trees and earth moving proposals will contribute to
Lake contamination. To attempt to mitigate this, the proposal indicates soil and
accouterments that are not native to the area will be brought in, thus causing more and
greater problems, which environmentalists can speak to with much more expertise than we.
¥ Amenity. We believe the marina area is an amenity for TD residents. It is not our wish that
the space be or become one that generates revenue for the Association. Why would one
want to cram more people (“the public”) into that small space or create space for
commercial or civil events (the GM stated “weddings” at one of the meetings where an
update of all the proposed improvements throughout TD was discussed). A TD club, the
hiking club for example having a picnic at the marina is much different than advertising and
renting the space for events such as weddings.
¥ Parking. The parking lot is of insufficient size to spend money thinking cosmetic
improvements to attract more people. Note, we are likewise not in favor of adding
pavement on the street side of the property for a few more parking spaces; doing so would
only create more environmental problems.
Thank you for giving serious consideration to our concerns.