Letters: Calling all Meyers residents
To the community,
It has been wonderful to see all of the comments you have been sending on the Meyers Area Plan; however, we need to remain diligent to make sure the new Meyers Area Plan reflects what we want for our community. Please mark your calendars for March 19, 6-8pm at the CCC building, if you haven’t already.
Preparing for March 19 meeting:
We were assured by our Supervisor Norma Santiago at the Feb. 26 meeting that we, the Meyers Community, would be heard at this March 19 meeting. This is our community and our plan — and our opportunity to speak up. Unfortunately, there is a lot of unclear, confusing information out there, so please review the Meyers Area Plan for yourself. It’s not very fun reading, but it’s important for the future of the community we have chosen to live in. But also, we must be careful to keep in mind that there are some rules in TRPA’s Regional Plan Update that will impact Meyers, yet are not mentioned in the Area Plan. See TRPA’s Code online.
For example:
Chapter 37 of TRPA’s Code includes 22 pages regarding height and exceptions that would allow more height. As it appears most people who have commented on height appear to like existing buildings like Century 21 and Bob Dog’s Pizza — which are not even as tall as the draft Area Plan currently proposes – without considering additional exceptions — perhaps we consider some language in the Meyers Area Plan to limit or prohibit the exceptions allowed in the TRPA Code?
Also, although we have heard there are “limits” on new commodities in Meyers, like commercial floor area, tourist units, etc., TRPA’s Code Chapter 50 allows these uses to be transferred, converted, and otherwise made available just about anywhere in the basin. If we want limits on these commodities, then let’s make sure our area plan says so.
New Meyers community website:
We want to help our community make informed decisions based on the facts. On that note, given there is so much information that relates to future plans for Meyers, and a lot of interest from the community, we have created a website to help keep you informed. Please go online to learn more and obtain information regarding other issues and plans which can affect Meyers, but that are not necessarily mentioned in the Meyers Area Plan language. Keep checking back too – we will keep the website updated as new information becomes available.
We will continue to remain diligent as well, with volunteers out to encourage attendance at the March 19 meeting and continue to obtain signatures on petitions for those who do not want the major increases in development currently in the draft Meyers Area Plan. In addition, we will remain in touch to provide additional information up until the March 19 meeting, and hope to see you all there.
Thank you,
Your fellow Meyers Area Residents and Business Owners
Joe Cardinale, resident
Jennifer Quashnick, resident
Jan Roman-Gonzales, resident and owner of Jan’s Preschool and Childcare
Moya Sanders, resident
“Obtain signatures on petitions for those who do not want the major increases in development.” That should do it.
Define “major development,” since Meyers already has 2 Golf Courses, 2 Highways, hundreds of houses built right up the edge of a major water source for Lake Tahoe, etc.
In the interest of full disclosure, Jennifer Quashnick is an employee of the Sierra Club and Friends of the West Shore, the 2 groups suing TRPA over the Regional Plan (and using that lawsuit as the basis for a huge fundraising drive). Not sure why she doesn’t ever mention that in her letters. It’s not that her opinion isn’t as valid as the next person’s, but to pretend that she is just a “resident” and not a critical part of a Basin-wide anti-redevelopment campaign is less than honest.
I happen to know Jennifer quite well Bob B.
She’s working on this because she cares about her community and as a concerned resident.
That’s right – Her opinion is as valid as the next persons !
In fact – You should thank Jennifer for taking so much time from her full time job to investigate this matter with the astute talent she has for deciphering documents.
You’ll see me sitting right next to her in these public meetings and I am a residential developer.
I too am a concerned resident.
So go ahead and bring it on with me instead if you like.
Gee Bob, what does it matter what group someone belongs to, or even their personal political views, or the color of their hair. Every one that has an interest in the issues is welcome to be at the table. Who are you employed by and what is your special interest? Please share so we know what to expect from you.
I am a member of the Placer County North Tahoe West Area Plan Team. The devil is in the details. The guidance and suggestions are valid. If the teams do not get issues nailed down, loop holes closed, definitions refined, the community will be battling projects that are allowed exceptions.