HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #32 (Colby)1
Laura Dabe
Subject:FW: Tahoe Donner Marina Facility Improvements
From: Ronnie Colby [mailto:ronnie.colby@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 12:01 AM
To: Thomas Murphy; Stephen Ramos; Heather Beckman; Greg Buchheister; Bruce Cornell; Jenna Endres; Kristen Colby
Subject: Tahoe Donner Marina Facility Improvements
Town of Truckee Planning Commission
&
Jenna Endres
Associate Planner
Community Development
Truckee Town Hall
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee CA 96161
RE: Comments on Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for
the Tahoe Donner Association Marina Facility Expansion Project [Application
12-020/AMND-DP-UP
Dear Commissioners & Ms. Endres:
Thank you for for considering our comments on this project.
After reviewing the Tahoe Donner Marina Facility Improvements plan set, walking the project site with the
Planning Commission and Tahoe Donner (TD) representatives, and reading the numerous (sometimes lengthy)
public comment letters, we are writing to request that the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration be denied
and that an EIR be completed for this lakeside project.
It is my understanding that such an EIR has never been performed on this site. It is also my understanding that
the integrity of various measures instituted by Tahoe Donner to ensure the welfare of a treasured public natural
resource - Donner Lake - are also lacking. Everyone loves Donner - that's why so many people are concerned
about lakeside development. We aren't seeking to pick on anyone here, just to keep the bar high when
considering such a project right on the water.
The Town and other local agencies are charged with ensuring the health of Donner Lake. It is too bad, however,
that the enforcement of high water quality monitoring standards and the publication of test results is virtually
nonexistent. I know all too little about the local Stormwater Monitoring Committee, but do know that hasn't
been a consistent effort longer than a few years to monitor Donner Lake's water quality. This is odd. I can't
think of any local who wouldn't want to help ensure and verify Donner Lake's health, especially after suffering
from fuel spills and resident fish being declared poisoned in Jan 2011 (See
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/tmdl/donnerlake/index.shtml)
Donner Lake officially remains an "impaired body of water" per the Clean Water Act.
Tahoe Donner has taken many common sense steps in its design approach (pervious pavers, willingness to re-
evaluate some trees slated for removal, the elimination of non-native species in re-vegetating the site, some
purported erosion control measures installed, etc...), but the site nonetheless stands to be significantly changed.
TD is apparently aiming to move away from its REC zoning and toward a commercial beach club, where one
can get a drink on a nice evening during summer (as long as you're a member of that exclusive club or a guest
2
of a member). Going from a "boating facility" (in 1974) to a marina waterfront bar and beach club after
disturbing 26,000 sq ft of soil is not a significant impact? Really?
What does the State Lands Commission think of this? How much more noise, traffic, and light pollution will the
nearby 150 campsite Donner State Park have to
contend with? How will the lake's water quality change with more visitors and more boats entering and exiting
(and leaking fuel and oil into) the lake? If there are not baseline usage statistics for visitors or for water quality,
how can anyone know that there will be a less than significant impact? The answer is, no one knows; so, more
than a survey is required. Speculating that cumulative impacts will be less than significant also insults the
residents of Truckee, who clearly care very deeply that Donner is protected.
The Planning Commission needs to step up to the plate and play by the rules their constituents painstakingly
crafted. Ensure that what's at the Marina works and will work for future growth on that site. Ensure that any
upcoming stormwater runoff treatment measures are adhered to now. Why Tahoe Donner doesn't voluntarily
take the high road and seek to be a good neighbor, promoting water quality measurements over the longer term -
I don't know. It is a little embarrassing to live in TD and not be partnering with someone to ensure that TD
members are in fact being good stewards of that site. TD;s focus instead appears to be on changing zoning and
generating revenue. And even if that's somehow untrue, the changes as proposed amount to significant ones and
warrant the highest degree of scrutiny. Residents don't currently seem convinced that when Truckee says it's
serious about keeping Donner Lake healthy, they mean it.
Please deny the mitigated negative declaration and require an EIR. Begin water quality monitoring on Donner
Lake immediately in partnership with all nearby stakeholders and make results public the way the TDPUD tells
us what's in the water we drink.
Respectfully submitted,
Ronnie and Kristen Colby
11144 Zermatt
Truckee, CA 96161