TRPA listens but still says no in lake view dispute

Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998 | 11:28 a.m.

That was evident Wednesday at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's regular board meeting, as panel members considered and finally rejected a petition filed by South Lake Tahoe residents Jaymee Willison and Arthur Evans and a group called Save Our Views.

Willison wanted to stop a permit for a single-family dwelling rebuild, claiming TRPA staff erroneously allowed an extra 999 square feet of coverage and didn't study the impact the building would have.

Willison, who lives across the street from the property, said the new house would block her view of the lake and disrupt others' views, including bikers and neighbors.

Willison added she formed Save Our Views because of the project and said 153 members have joined.

While the TRPA denied the petition, several members indicated the decision was difficult.

"I'm very uncomfortable with this whole situation," said Jerome Waldie, California Senate Rules Committee appointee.

Waldie added Willison did the right thing by bringing the issue to the board.

In other action, TRPA staff gave an update on the $900 million environmental improvement program, highlighting the idea that an "integration team" is needed to ensure projects are completed.

"We need to operate as a team, if we're going to generate $900 million," said Jim Baetge, TRPA executive director.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit supported the idea.

"There needs to be a place where all of us can come to coordinate our efforts so there is no overlapping each other," said Juan Palma, LTBMU forest supervisor.

TRPA staffers also gave an update on a proposed Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization, which would enable Lake Tahoe would be able to compete with other western urban areas for federal money.

Lake Tahoe could get at least $200,000 a year for transportation planning and $500,000 for transportation projects.

The Tahoe MPO board would be made up of the 14 voting members of the TRPA governing board and one representative from the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.