Most of South Tahoe now deemed a redevelopment area
By Kathryn Reed
In less than an hour and with a split vote, the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Tuesday declared 20 percent of the city blighted in order to create a redevelopment area that encompasses 3,100 acres.
State law requires an area be deemed blighted before creating a redevelopment area. With the latest area encompassing most of the Y to Herbert Street, it means the majority of town is blighted because most of the parcels from Ski Run Boulevard to the state line are in a redevelopment area.
The redevelopment area is in blue.
It was a 3-1-1 vote, with Councilman Bill Crawford voting no and Councilman Hal Cole recusing himself because he owns property in the area. Even though Councilman Bruce Grego’s law office is in the area, he can vote because he is on a month-to-month lease with his landlord.
Crawford took issue with approving the environmental documents, questioning how a negative declaration can be determined without knowing the projects that might be brought forward. He also has issues with calling the whole town blighted.
Since the April redevelopment meeting, a flurry of letters and emails have been sent back and forth between the city and its two major opponents – South Tahoe Public Utility District and El Dorado County. Those entities believe they will be shortchanged on property tax dollars when the tax increment becomes effective.
The county asked the city to delay the decision. The city believes the county has had ample time to voice its concerns, including at a two-hour meeting where the city presented its position to the Board of Supervisors.
The property tax these entities receive is frozen instead of going up 2 percent each year. The city’s Redevelopment Agency gets that money.
South Lake Tahoe believes it will generate $178 million in tax increment in the 45 years the project will be on the books.
The issue was brought back to the council because in April the panel voted to shrink the area. The Planning Commission put the kibosh on that idea, though the council has the ultimate authority. The council reversed course from last month to include the entire area except for the handful of parcels the county says are theirs.
“This is an important day for our community,” Mayor Kathay Lovell said. “(This is) so we can rebuild our tired little town.”
Councilman Jerry Birdwell asked city staff for the May 18 meeting to come up with ways to show the public how redevelopment can work and to possibly assist areas like the Y and Harrison Avenue with developing business improvement districts like his street — Ski Run Boulevard — has done.
The other item on the agenda Tuesday was to review the annual report for the Ski Run BID and keep it going for another year. Birdwell and Cole recused themselves from the vote. Crawford abstained even though he didn’t make any comments about the issue.
City Attorney Patrick Enright said the vote was sufficient for the matter before the council, but added three votes would be needed for approval of any matter in the future that involves spending money.
The key to re-building this town is micro development. Small to medium sized commercial projects that produce jobs, that in turn help the local economy as a whole. The only way that we will ever see micro development is if the TRPA eases coverage and CFA rules and regultaions. In todays world, technology exists and is used often to mitigate impacts. TRPA needs to step up to the plate and allow exemptions to many of their rules if properly mitigated. If the micro developer feels they can honestly produce a project here that would not cost significantly more than a town with fewer restrictions, they most likely will choose Tahoe as the toursits will always come. I am not a fan of the redevelopment practice of blight, in fact, we may be able to justify the hole as blight. If we want to see true development in this town similar to other alpine resort towns, the City Council has to commit to support the exemption of some of the TRPA rules and regulations and do so with scientific and economic backbone.
If past performance can be used as a guide, citizens should be leery of the city’s further lunges at redevelopment.
Well, we all knew this was going to happen. Despite strong public opposition, and despite the fact that they haven’t cleaned up the mess at the hole, here we go again…
Not to mention the fact that yesterday the governator was given the okay to plunder cities’ redevelopment funds to plug the state hole. Robbing Peter to pay Paul again. Nothing good will come of the various governments messing around with the citizens’ money.
If they call this blight, I can’t imagine what they would call real blight in impoverished countries.
Maybe this will be all good down the road, but just seems like too many unknowns of what their intentions are, and what the cost will be, but they certainly don’t seem to be representing the people, more like an “I know what’s best for you” attitude, as I can’t see how this would benefit them or their friends, other than in a broad way.
A little at a time as previously mentioned would be a good way to go. Show us how good this can be on a small project, so that business owners will want some for themselves.
If the hole project started back up, and we saw it start to take shape, this would have a positive effect on the moral of the community. Make it happen.
Lets designate California a redevelopement area that way we will save time there will be no doubt about what and where we are talking about.
but they certainly don’t seem to be representing the people….Great observation !
You know, you read it all the time,city wants your input on new development,new city hall, new water system,trash rates,paper or plastic etc., THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
When ‘s the last time the residents opinion’s meant a DAMN THING to the 4 clowns that vote this crap in?
You mark my words, someone going to lose their business one way or another in the future to the same old song”eminent domain cases.” If you are affected by eminent domain, it is important that you understand the legal process so that you are better prepared to deal with the government when condemnation occurs. You should know that the government is not necessarily looking out for your best interest, and if it threatens condemnation you should not allow that threat to sway your judgment.
I live on So Shore Drive which is in the redevelopment area.. why is my residential area included.. ? Our homes are constantly improving and our neighborhood quite nice… ???
LynneBajuk,
Here is a link about Redevelopment Project Area 2.
http://www.ctcip.org/
My house is also in Project Area 2, I don’t really understand why.
The cronies are at it again. Set out to put people out of business. Lose out on the little tax base they currently have. And best of all, another hole in the ground. C’mon man and woman.
This sure help your resale price if you want move,the area is considered “Blight”.
Wonder what a Bank will tell new buyers, if there are any?
Half the people living in these areas will be real old or buried before they ever complete this .
I just don’t get the wisdom about everything got be new.I very much like the old funky town that use to have plenty people,thriving,people really liked the old squeaky floors. example:
Midnight Mine,the Fish Market,the Deadhead,Orange Julius,Do fond lack,Red Carpet INN,Balley Union, Shingle Creek,Two Guys from Italy, Cecil’s .”Nothing in the town can be as good as those were”
I could think many places that were really nice,got wiped out my the so called newer bring back the business,some one missed the point?
The saying, it’s not what you say, but how you say it.
Tahoe hasn’t changed it’s way of the natural beauty,it’s the way it’s keepers have treated the ones that use to visit.
Old classic cars are loved because they are what they are, old,neat,special………..”we need to market the lake the same way”!
Funky has always had a place with resort mountain towns.God if they tore down all the mining towns that draw the people in Colorado ,replaced it with bigger ,high rises, they lose business.
Some of you need to look at this objectively. We have too many tired and ugly looking businesses and buildings. Too many crappy looking excuses for motels. Tourists don’t want to see this and neither do the majority of the slt citizens. So, get ready for change or leave town. Its a democracy, the majority of the voters voted for the current council, like them or not, and the vote is over.
You could build a Taj Ma·hal and that’s not going to change -h-i- in this town.
If you want a big city ,move to the city,too many crappy decisions by your inbreed city council intelligence the problem and dry clean, not one us suckers got to vote on that big dry-clean hole in the ground,take that to your cleaners majority vote ,not even 25% of the population even bother to vote.
Step out you dirty skivvies smell the air.
Does the city council take into account the fact that maybe the reason many businesses are NOT running to be in a redevelopment area is $$$$? Pre-development rents are a LOT less for the businesses than post. Here in the Y area, folks can have a little business and do okay because costs are not as high as at Stateline. I remember walking into the new Quizno’s when it was over there and almost having a heart attack! Most expensive sandwiches on Earth! What’s going to happen when the Y is redeveloped? Who will be able to afford the rents then? Not the little guys.
what makes you think it will get developed.Just because this passed doesn’t mean they will come. Hell most of us will go to the valley to shop for less expensive goodsanyway, new redevelopment does not mean lower prices. All it means is that the county gets less funds from us, stpuid gets less funds and there are now incentives for oweners to fix their blighted properties or new guys to come in. this is not nirvana. last i knew gas was still 40 -50 cents less a gallon off the hill and undies are 3 for $9.00 at costco an such. why do you are..there is no eminant domain so no one is being forced out. Its just offical that this tired town is dumpy and blighted which any idiot knows.
of course less than 25% of the people vote, most of them are not registered or not registered to vote here. transients from another place to hold electoral residence back home. ever wonder why locals get called so often for jury duty?
To SLT Local. You ask why South Shore Drive is on the RD2 map. Well, just a thought for you. In the beginning, Lukins was going to be a part of this redevelopment. Now the city says it is not. However, I also question why this street and Rainbow, Secret Harbor, Lapham, and Patricia streets are still on the map. Perhaps you should call Gene Palazzo at the redevelopment office and ask. I suggest to you that this area was originally included to bail Lukins. I still contend that with these streets STILL on the RD2 map, Lukins will be bailed. I believe that the city will use redevelopement monies to purchase Lukins and since a city cannot be the owner of a public water facility will in turn sell it off to STPUD for cents on the dollar. Check it out. Call Gene and ask why these back streets are still on the RD2. Just a thought.
business improvement districts like his street — Ski Run Boulevard —SO NOW Bird-well GOT A STREET, Boy HE’S IN FOR A SHOCKER WITH THE NEW HOUSING GOING ON BEHIND HIS CHAMBERS OF HORRORS,can’t call the police on the hammers that start at 7 a.m. Jerry.
Frank’s music will be music to your ears after the framing comes to a halt, you’ll wish the place next door was having wedding instead.Ski run beauty is skin deep,100 feet away are the lousy unkempt apartments, foreign language center of the so called down town,sheesh,it this the best they could do with a street paid for by another parties pocket book? They want try do 3100 acres ,The county seat right, hang-town always said the people up here are too high,”Do you think they might have a clue to things this group wouldn’t want discuss”?
I agree with Dogwoman,take a stroll through Heavenly Village, Home the 7 million balloon debt for parking garage that sucks as bad the hidden figures on Airport that they don’t report at the city meeting.THE GENERAL FUND WAS ROBBED WITHOUT APPROVAL,Now they want BS the residents into some 2/3 CITY BLIGHT SCAM , these ARE THE KIND THINGS THAT COME BACK TO HAUNT US.
Some how the stink in the books always seems to rise to the top after the facts.
Dryclean, people come in here think they will set up shop,then when they catch the reality of what’s really going on, they pack up leave,that’s why you don’t see more voters.People and business alike can’t live off a few holidays each year, ,hell to start a business you got take a hair test,spread test,make sure you don’t sell your goods for cheaper than the councils buddies,total hog wash!
The county seat has for years had this town under their microscope, why support a bunch uneducated ,make believe city politician figures that don’t even know half the time the process of a session.’who ties these people shoes when they get out bed?
People here aren’t a bunch of idiots, why they put faith in bunch Carpet baggers(to profiteer from the unsettled social and political conditions of the area during Reconstruction,any opportunistic company has served this town for years, but now the new one run by carpetbaggers from the city is stealing our business.) ………..
“This is an important day for our community,” Mayor Kathay Lovell said. “(This is) so we can rebuild our tired little town.”
LETS BUILD A NEW COUNCIL FIRST, THEN GET TO THE TABLE LATER ,lets get a real mayor who doesn’t wear Rose Colored Glasses(a cheerful or optimistic view of things, usually without valid basis).
Is it true that the courts denied the appeal against Superior Court Connelly’s decision and California is asking the City of South Lake Tahoe for approximately 2 million dollars of redevelopment money?
Remember when Pioneer Trail from Al Tahoe Blvd to Meyers was dirt with wagon tracks? All our roads may soon be dirt if the “Gang of Four” aon the City Council continues unabated!
John,
Yes, in this paragraph from an article that reads:
“Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly upheld AB X4 26, the state budget bill passed in July 2009 as part of the 2009-10 state budget that requires redevelopment agencies statewide to transfer $2.05 billion in local redevelopment funds over the next two years.”
The State of California is going to take
$2,070,160 from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of South Lake Tahoe.
The real “Biggest Losers” are the residents and businesses of the City of South Lake Tahoe. I am sure that the monies to offset this latest shortfall will be taken from the Cities general fund just like the 7 million used to bail out Stateline redevelopment was. As our roads and services sink to an even lower level! Thank you, David Jinkens and Eugene Palazzo! Perhaps we should erect a monument for them in the center of one of STPUD’s settling ponds, a suitable legacy.