Op/Ed: People need to come out for the Meyers Area Plan meeting on Thursday

Most of us moved to Meyers because it's a rural community, away from the City & tourist congestion. I am pro-growth, most locals are, as long as it's appropriately sized growth for our community. The proposed Meyer's Plan however, opens the door to a Mega Resort, with incentives for large development and in my mind, lacks long range planning.

I started going to planning meetings last summer, just to listen, but it wasn't until December that I got really concerned. Here's a timeline of events, from my perspective:

Fall 2013 - At Meyers Community Advisory Council (MCAC) meetings, talk of a large project called the Catalyst. When asked about it, the subject was changed or question ignored.

Dec. 2013 - Catalyst leaked, scares the hell out of residents & businesses due to enormous size.

Jan. 2014 - County's letter to Feinstein leaked. Letter pushes huge project forward in Meyers.

Around this time - Found out our Commercial/Light Industrial Zone changed by the TRPA back in 2012 to Town Center Zone, without notification to property owners or businesses. "Town Center" allows for large projects, up to 40 units per acre along both sides of HWY 50, where only 10 units per acre were allowed before (West Meyers, Catalyst vicinity).

Jan. 2014 - Six acres of CA Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) lots considered 'For Sale' in Town Center, land previously referred to as "Unbuildable Conservancy Lots", now referred to as "Asset Properties", in direct vicinity of Catalyst Project Area. Does the CTC smell money ?

Jan. 2014 - Meyers Plan Draft is released, complete with the aforementioned incentives.

Found out that the TRPA's Regional Plan Update (RPU) now allows for conversion/transfer of "commodities", things like Commercial Floor Area & Tourist Accommodation Units, a very sneaky business since it's not mentioned in the Meyer's Plan, you must read the TRPA's plan to know that these can be bought & brought into Meyers. This is a big damn deal. Commercial Floor Area is to large development what sewer permits are to residential building, except that you have to buy thousands of them. Does the TRPA smell money too?

Feb 2014 - Locals circulate fliers, petitions, & hold community meeting - more that 100 people attend and almost all were unaware of zone & plan changes to Meyers.

Feb. 2014 - Town Center zone change detrimental to existing business owners, threat of eminent domain & the County's lack of transparency leaves private property owner's in limbo.

Feb 2014 - TRPA & County hold public show & tell, however, community still in the dark about Plan changes because the meeting was conducted in TRPA speak.

March 2014 - Catalyst Project name changed to Incentive Project due to negative reaction from the Meyer's Community.

March 2014 - Million Dollar grant application by agencies falsely claims the Meyers Plan is ready to go. They did not get the grant.

March 2014 - CTC promised Asset Lands can be used as Green Belt/Open Space, if the community wants it, however , makes no attempt to inform the community.

April 2014 - CTC sends survey crew onto private properties in Catalyst project vacinity, without permission, and when asked why, lied & got caught.

May 2014 - US Forest Service Land Swap, Visitor's Center dismantled, also in direct vicinity of Catalyst
project area. Can they smell money too?

June 2014 - Another agency dog & pony show, people left, remaining were asked about height limit for new buildings in Meyers, show of hands agreed upon max. height 35 feet.

Somewhere around this time the County announces " NO MORE MEYERS MEETINGS", the Meyers Community Advisory Council sort of fizzles & the community finds itself without a voice.

May - August 2014 - South Tahoe Chamber of Commerce ( CA Chamber) writes several letters to the County on Meyer's behalf, reiterating ongoing concerns, also requesting an independent survey with which to direct planners when re-writing the plan.

July 2014 - No response from County

July 2014 - CA Chamber helps organize meeting with agencies, TRPA states they would not allow height limit in plan regardless of communities vote.

July 2014- Locals again try to inform Meyers by booking a facility for workshop and sending out agenda. Interestingly, the booked & confirmed date for workshop gets bumped by the Nevada Chamber for their previously unscheduled and unheard of event.

August 2014 - Still no response from County

August 2014 - Documents surface regarding County takeover of 56 acre Tahoe Paradise Park (Senate Bill 1023), also in direct vicinity of Catalyst project. County denies takeover but suggests the Park Board sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help fund bookkeeping & such.

Somewhere in here, agency meeting, not open to public, CTC un-promises Green Belt land and re-re zones some lands "Recreation Zone", which, coincidentally allows for large development, as long as it is sports-related, which includes pretty much everything.

Oct 2014 - Nevada Chamber writes a creatively worded letter to the County, in response to 2nd Meyers Draft. Somehow they found 300 employees in Meyers, really? State Fund will be thrilled! This letter alludes to 15 NV. Chamber businesses here, but after a quick look, their roster reflects differently, more like 3. Could the Nevada Chamber have a agenda, maybe something that includes a large smelly project?

Oct. 2014 - At Candidate Meet & Greet, the concept of the City of South Lake Tahoe expanding it's boundaries or creating a whole new County with Meyers & City combined. Why would the City want anything to do with us now, they never did before. What's in it for them?

Enough, you get the point. Whether "Pro- growth" or "Big Growth", future growth needs to be a community decision. And, well, transparency would be nice. Does anyone really believe the TRPA, County, Conservancy, USFS, NV Chamber, and now even the City, changed all these things willie-nillie, at the same time, for no reason?

If the new Meyer's Plan is written with this in mind, growth can be the communities decision, so let's take the time, create a survey for resident's ideas & vision for our community. Please come to the Oct.16th meeting at the Airport, City Council Chamber, 9am.