Douglas County Commissioners to vote on ban on VHRs north of Cave Rock, changes in Lincoln Park

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Two agenda items on Thursday's Douglas County Commissioner's meeting deal with the future of vacation home rentals (VHRs) at Lake Tahoe. One item proposes to ban VHRs north of Cave Rock State Park, and the other discusses possible changes in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Commissioner Danny Tarkanian has asked for the ban. He has said during previous meetings that tourists to Lake Tahoe want to be near the "high-density tourist" area of Stateline and not north of Cave Rock, citing their activities are centered near the casinos and Heavenly Ski Resort, and Glenbrook is too far away.

The Douglas County Planning Commission recommended a denial of the ban for VHRs north of Cave Rock at its December 12 meeting. They have not had the other neighborhood on their agenda to discuss.

The possible changes to VHRs in the Lincoln Park residential community include permit density, permit requirements, permit restrictions, permit distribution, and the possible means to implement those changes.

There has been a lot of discussion about VHRs in the Glenbrook neighborhood, which is north of Cave Rock State Park. Kevin Kjer manages most of them and has told the commissioners that most of his renters are families and friends of residents and that he has had no problem with renters or ordinance violations. One of those with a permit, Rick Ray, is a descendant of the Young and Ray families of the South Shore. He is an independent filmmaker and created this:

Glenbrook has a very small percentage of VHRs, and no violations have been found for areas north of Cave Rock.

If the ordinance passes, 13 VHRs will lose their permits in Cave Rock Cove (4); Logan Creek (1); Shakespeare Point (2); Uppaway (0); and non-HOA Glenbrook rentals or "Non-Affiliated" Glenbrook Rentals (6). The total lost revenue for the County would be $123,708 annually.

The Vacation Rental Advisory Committee has been proactive on all aspects of the VHR ordinance, and they have worked through many issues in all areas of the Tahoe Township, including the elimination of large party homes in the county.

Kjer and Ray said there have been no issues with home rentals for decades, and it has been only in the last five years that any issues have arisen. They both say it appears the ban issues are driven by new owners in the neighborhood.

During the most recent commissioner meetings when VHRs are discussed, Tarkania and Commissioner Walt Nowosad have been taking the side of banning them, Commissioners Wes Rice and Sharla Hales, and Board Chair Mark Gardner taking the side of reasonable ordinances with consequences if not following the law.

Rice is the commissioner for District 4, and represents all areas of Lake Tahoe, with Tarkanian in District 1, Hales in District 2, Gardner in District 3, and Nowosad in District 5. See the map above that outlines their districts.

For information on how to participate or watch the meeting which is on December 21 at 10 a.m., visit HERE. The two items addressing VHRs are items 7 and 8 following the consent agenda. They start on page 1295 of the agenda packet.