City of South Lake Tahoe takes next steps for "cleanup annexation"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed a motion Tuesday night for an ordination for the prezoning of 90 parcels that are currently in the El Dorado County boundaries. This was one step required of several, with more opportunities for the public to comment on the process in the coming months.

The cleanup annexation involves parcels along Barbara Avenue, and some on both Lodi Avenue and Winnemucca Avenue. Five parcels on Lodi Avenue are on a city street and receive city services, but for some reason when the original city boundaries were drawn in 1965 they were left in the county. The same goes for four parcels on Winnemucca. The 90 parcels involved in the annexation total 411.8 acres and are held in public ownership by the State of California, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, the City of South Lake Tahoe, the South Tahoe Public Utility District, and Lake Tahoe Community College. There are 12 parcels held in private ownership.

Many at the Council meeting voiced their concern that the lots would be developed, but changing from county to city does not change any building possibilities and most are set to remain open land (except those already homes). One of the homes on Lodi has been able to rent as a vacation home rental since it was officially in El Dorado County. Their ability to rent on a short-term basis will go away with the annexation due to Measure T.

"No new development is proposed," said Councilmember Cristi Creegan. "We are adopting the underlying zoning."

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District wanted to make sure the process didn't interfere with its 206 acres behind Grocery Outlet. They are in "mid-stream" of restoring Johnson Meadow and were concerned the process with a bridge replacement and greenway wouldn't have any issues.

Tuesday's actions were just one point in the process with at least two or three more opportunities for the public to comment. The prezoning is required when in the process of annexation.

Some residents on Winnemucca were concerned the annexation meant the lots in question would be built on. Brandi Ledbetter Brown spoke during public comment, saying she is looking forward to the completion of the process. She owns three of the parcels, and having two in the county adjacent to one in the city has created barriers.

Tahoe Sierra neighborhood resident Judi Allen said the process has been flawed since information provided by city staff was inaccurate at the planning commission meeting in November. She questioned the fact that staff said the city has been providing services to the possible annexation lots.

"There is nothing wrong with the way the county is taking care of it," said Allen of the parcels along Barbara Avenue. She said the annexation would be "harming our neighborhood."

Lodi Avenue residents Pete and Karen Fink said they were looking forward to being residents of South Lake Tahoe. They will be able to vote in city elections just like they neighbors are currently able to.

"This is called a cleanup annexation," said Mayor Cody Bass. "It wouldn’t require Lake Valley to come to those certain properties, providing a better level of service for everyone."

City staff has been working on another annexation, that of the Heavenly California Lodge. Lake Valley Fire and El Dorado County Sheriff both respond to Heavenly, even though all roads leading to it are city-maintained streets.