Letter: Patience needed regarding Chateau project

Publisher’s note: This letter was submitted to the city in regards to the Chateau project. It is reprinted with permission.

Members of the city of South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission:

As a former member of the Planning Commission for approximately 13 years, I am well aware of the difficult task that you have before you in recommending action to the City Council regarding the stalled Convention Center and Retail project. I served on the Planning Commission in the early stages of the project and saw it as an engine for driving the economy of the city as well as a good land use for the properties involved.

The commission at that time saw the project in its entirety and supported it as a complete project, not one to be completed in stages. As time has passed, that vision has seemed to become difficult to complete as originally planned. I urge you to look to our actions involving the then Embassy Vacation Resort as a successful guide as to how to proceed involving such a complex project to be completed in stages. Our actions consolidated all the parcels, abandoned all the streets and assured that the project would be built in four stages.

I strongly urge you to recommend to the City Council that the project be approved under the following conditions:

1. That all the parcels of the project, not just the six being considered, be consolidated at this time. This will work to insure that the complete project be completed.

2. That all the streets in the complete project area be abandoned, not just the one you are considering. This will show developers that the city is looking ahead and continues to support the project as initially envisioned.

3. That no action be taken until all the original property owners in project area be financially be made “whole”.

We are on the verge of finally seeing this long stalled project come to completion. I urge you to not be rushed into a hasty decision. Look to the past for successful actions on how to proceed in order for us all to prosper.

Thank you,

Patrick J. Frega, South Lake Tahoe