By Kathryn Reed

Homeowners in Glenbrook are going to have to pay a $55,000 penalty to TRPA and restore the disturbed area of their Snug Harbor property.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board last week approved the settlement with Jeff McClure, Roy Darrow and Brad Gundel.

According to the staff report, “This violation involves unauthorized grading and dredging activities in the shorezone on the lakefront residence.”

The issue dates to 1997. Fast forward to October 2013. The defendants and TRPA staff meet regarding unpermitted work that was done on the beach involving large boulders.

The staff report says, “They explained that they were protecting their rights under an easement allowing homeowners in Snug Harbor to access the beach area on the Tahoe Estates Property, and that their attorney gave them direction to go ahead with the work without a permit.”

But that work violated TRPA regulations. In addition to the fine, the land must be restored to conform to the 1998 TRPA permit.

The settlement says, “The plan will result in returning some of the disturbed rocks to the area below highwater lakeward of the Tahoe Estates Property to a pattern supportive of fish habitat and reasonable beach access and to prevent beach erosion.”

Attorney Lew Feldman, representing some of the property owners, spoke briefly before the TRPA legal committee on Oct. 22 to voice his displeasure with the settlement agreement.

However, he did not want to talk to Lake Tahoe News. “I don’t believe it ethically appropriate for me to discuss a negotiated settlement,” Feldman said.

The property owners also declined comment.