HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #15 (Doler)1
Laura Dabe
Subject:FW: TD Marina Expansion Plan
From: Kathleen Doler [mailto:kathleendoler@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 3:55 PM
To: Jenna Endres
Subject: TD Marina Expansion Plan
Jenna Endres
Associate Planner
Truckee Town Hall
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee CA 96161
RE: Tahoe Donner Marina Beach Club Expansion Revisited
Dear Ms. Endres:
I would like to take this opportunity to comment on the proposed Tahoe Donner
Association (TDA) Conditional Use Permit for the Marina “improvement” Expansion
Project. This project is coming before the Planning Commission once again on August 20.
Despite vigorous objections from TD members, environmental groups, the Truckee community and Donner
Lake residents, and even the Truckee Planning Commission itself, TD’s is back with minor changes to its
original plan, which was submitted last fall. The new, supposedly amended plan, still includes the removal of
many mature trees, digging into a fragile slope, paving over the majority of a lawn area and running
unpermitted events at the site. TD is now trying to say that these events will be “member” events. Don’t be
fooled! If events are allowed, which is in violation of the use permit for the site, even if a member throws the
event the majority of attendees will be non‐TD residents. TD is just trying to use language that gets it around
condition 26 (below), which the Planning Commission required for approval of any Marina Expansion plan.
Why is TD management trying to find a way to run events, particularly in the evening? Because the Marina
runs at FULL capacity nearly every day of the summer. I know because I use the Marina and paddle out of the
site 2 to 3 days a week in the summer. By 10:00 a.m., the Marina parking lot is full EVERY DAY, with overflow
parking jamming up the street and impacting traffic. Donner Lake residents know this and have voiced their
2
disapproval of TD running events into the evening at a site that’s not supposed to be a commercial venue. The
approved uses of the Marina are for recreational activities associated with the beach, for example, swimming
and boating. It was never intended as an event site. Within TD, many members also have voiced their
disapproval of TD management running additional commercial events. This is contrary to the nature of an HOA
and these events restrict usage of amenities that we, the members, pay for. In the case of the Marina
construction plan, TD management wants to close the Marina a whole month earlier than usual to begin
construction. I am adamantly opposed to this early closing, as are other TD members. Our summers are short
enough without TD’s empire building further restricting member usage of our Marina amenity.
Additionally, the revised plans still call for retaining walls above the western beach area; walls that were
previously ruled illegal by the Planning Commission. And the plans still describe extensive excavation for new
pathways, lighting trenches and an enlarged deck area. As I mentioned above, the lighting should not be
allowed because nighttime activities are inconsistent with approved Marina uses and are vigorously opposed
by Donner Lake residents. Although the new plans call for saving a few of the previously condemned trees,
more trees could be saved by eliminating the illegal excavation. And many TD members also oppose the deck
expansion, as paddlers (kayakers and paddleboarders) use the lawn area daily, as they rig gear and launch and
recover their watercraft.
I hope the Planning Commission will once again see TD’s revised plan as a veiled attempt to attract more
commercial business to a non‐commercial site. This expansion plan is environmentally destructive and it’s
unnecessary construction for no benefit to TD members. In fact, if approved it will actually harm member‐
enjoyment of our Marina amenity.
Thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Doler
TD Resident
15596 Alder Creek Road
Truckee, Calif. 96161
530‐582‐0602
Kathleen Doler
Freelance writer, editor and photojournalist
kathleendoler@sbcglobal.net
www.kathleendoler.com