Agencies criticize parking plan for Tahoe’s clothing-optional beaches

Thursday, April 27, 2000 | 10:10 a.m.

Both the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the League to Save Lake Tahoe have criticized the U.S. Forest Services environmental assessment of plans to add up to 58 new spaces to parking lots on State Route 28 above a string of beaches on Tahoes east shore.

Both say the document fails to adequately deal with the need to remove parking along the highways shoulder - the primary reason expansion of the lots is being contemplated. The league and TRPA want to halt the practice that has hundreds of cars parking along the highway in summer months.

Don Lane, a recreation officer with the Forest Service, said officials are still trying to determine how the leagues and TRPAs concerns might impact the project.

Others believe the project is certain to be delayed at least one year and fear a$500,000 Federal Highways Administration grant may be in danger.

"It has just simply doomed this (environmental analysis)," said Carson City Supervisor Kay Bennett, who chairs the "Team Tahoe" coalition that has spent years trying to reach compromise regarding parking and access issues on the east shore. "Im really disappointed."

Bennett said the $500,000 highways grant likely will be reapportioned for other projects. Officials of the Nevada Department of Transportation, which will administer the grant, are trying to determine whether the money could be spent elsewhere this year and secured again in 2001.

Richard Wiggins, a transportation planner with TRPA, said it may be more appropriate for his agency - rather than the Forest Service - to prepare an environmental document on the parking lot project.

Members of Tahoe Area Naturists, an organized group of users of the clothing-optional beaches, arent so sure. North Swanson, the groups chairman, said he would be "very leery" of any move by the bistate agency to take over the job from the Forest Service.

Swanson said his group will continue to work with public agencies on preparation of the East Shore Access Plan, a document designed to guarantee continued beach access in the event highway shoulder parking is eliminated as planned.