Connelly Beach, Leadership Lake Tahoe and Bike Park on Council agenda

Public access to Connelly Beach in South Lake Tahoe is on the City Council agenda for Tuesday, May 19.

Before the City incorporated in 1965, the public was allowed unrestricted access to Connelly Beach and the pier. In 1972, a proposed 261 room motel was considered by the City's Architectural Review Committee. While the project was approved by the Committee, public access to the Beach was restricted to a 15-foot easement area measured from the high water mark. Subsequent review by the City Council resulted in modifications to the Committee's decision, which resulted in the following requirements:
• Developer to maintain 18 separate parking spaces for use by the public.

Upon completion of the project, the developer initiated a lawsuit against the City for the purpose of eliminating the public's access between the buildings and the low water mark of the lake. The developer argued that public access to Connelly Beach should be limited so as not to interfere with the owner's use of the beach. The City defended the historical right of the public to use the beach and pier as appropriate. Ultimately, the case was split into two issues: the public's right of access and the state's interest in the shoreline of Lake Tahoe.

The beach area is on the agenda Tuesday because the current owners, Urban Realty Advisors, LLC, want to preserve their rights to the beach area while also providing the required 18 parking spaces and access for the public.

At issue is the high water mark. Currently the property owner must allow 100-feet of beach (measured from the high water mark) for public use from June 1st through September 30th during daylight hours. The state owns a public trust easement which allows year round public access from the high water mark (elev. 6229 ft.) to the low water mark and below.

According to a letter from Ray Jarvis, Director of Public Works for the City, which is included in the meeting packet, the City recently completed a topographic survey in order to map the high water mark and the 100-foot mark to clearly identify the public "Beach Area." "It became apparent the 100-foot mark extended through improvements on the owner's property," according to the Jarvis letter. "This may be the result of the improvements not running parallel to the shoreline. Therefore, the City and owner propose to adjust the 100-foot mark so it does not encroach into the building area and to the extent possible preserves the required public 'Beach Area'."

Also on the Council's short agenda is a presentation on Leadership Lake Tahoe and an agreement between the City and Pump Trax USA in the amount of $60,550 for the Design Services and Construction Oversight of the Bijou Bike Park.

Council meetings can be viewed on line via the City's website here: Council Meeting.