Homewood story lacked fairness
Dear Publisher,
One specific question I asked Austin [Fay] was if he would give a fair review of what transpired at the Friends of the West Shore meeting 7/2/10. He seemed taken aback at my question, however, after reading his article, it is both unbalanced and unfair to all who attended.
There were at least 8-10 people at the meeting of approximately 20, who are very much in favor of the [Homewood Mountain Resort] project. Several of those people spoke and all are full-time homeowners and taxpayers, concerned about the environment and economic sustainability of this community. In fact, economic sustainability was discussed several times, not just regarding JMA’s ownership of HMR, but the impact to the entire West Shore businesses and not mentioned in Austin’s article in that context.
Additionally, I never made a public comment about NIMBY’s or CAVES. That was something that came out of a “private conversation” with Austin on the sidewalk as he was about to get in his vehicle.
So, my thoughts about lack of fairness came true, much to my disappointment.
Sincerely,
Rob Weston, West Shore business owner
Only a Developer would dismiss the comments of residents participating in the Friends of the West Shore Community Meeting and the news report.
The Community Meeting sponsored by Friends of the West Shore was full of great responses concerning the Environment/ Community/ and Economic fears with Roger Kahn, previous owner of Porter Co. and on the Lake Tahoe Resort Association with a different title. It was well attended by 37 individuals, the sign in sheet I have will support the count. Dave Tirman, Michael Hogan and his wife, Rob Weston and Roger Kahn all attended and spoke, the only five people who supported this HMR project, no other person spoke in favor of the project. I hope Rob Weston does better at counting his bicycles than people.
Roger Kahn’s viewpoint on economics needed to be heard but we must look at a balance of the goals not just money; however blight hurts us all. Frankly, Villas at Harborside is blight due it’s economic endeavors that never became a reality and we are stuck with the cement holes – that is blight with TRPA approval.
It is about the balance of the majestic natural resources, the communities here for generations and the economics, especially at this time. Redevelopment is the key, no new development. Homewood Mountain Resort should stay within the Community Enhancement Program and reduce their present footprint not go up the slope on bare watersheds, building mega five star hotels.
Dave Tirman explained that according to the way TRPA measures height, they’ve gone from 108’ high to 77’ in height. But in lowering the building by 31’ not one unit was lost – that will be a question for July 24th He also illustrated how measuring according to Placer County in the TRPA Tahoe Basin they could take the mean of the slope and be able to reduce the motel to 49’ in height. Of course, these special measurements should only be for ski resorts. Why? Everyone lives who lives in the Tahoe Basin should be treated with the same guidelines.
I have always been respectful of Mr. Tirman, Mr. Weston and Mr. Hogan and I’ve never replied to their lies. The Friends of the West Shore Community Meeting was such a success, I just can’t allow any one of them to undermine all the people who were given a chance to ask their own questions. From the meek individuals we don’t hear from to the trained, it was a balanced discussion of important concepts. With the Resort Association individual attempting to monopolize all conversation – he was definitely a poor spokesman.
So how can we balance the Environment – Communities – Economy? By not allowing just one aspect of Lake Tahoe, any of the three have the total say and that includes the size and scope of Homewood Mountain Resort, it needs to fit into our natural resources without multiple impacts to the watershed and groundwater, it needs to fit into the Community which at this massive size and scale, is impossible.
Susan R. Gearhart,