BY ANN NICHOLS
Because the California Tahoe Conservancy is experiencing challenges funding the agency and managing its 4,400 parcels, the conservancy has begun the process of selling off “asset lands:” potentially 400 parcels. Why should the public care?
Property owners on the California side and California Realtors should be concerned. Often a buyer’s or seller’s main motivation and price decision is based on whether or not the property is adjacent to “protected” conservancy lands.
When the public is encouraged to buy license plates, approve bonds, or donate in support of the conservancy, the general understanding is that the agency buys up and retires property from development in perpetuity in order to protect the environment. Their original mission was to “preserve, protect, restore, enhance, and sustain the natural resources.”
But the sad new reality is that the conservancy has bought property, stripped off non-existent coverage “rights” and potential entitlements, and, in the case of these 400 parcels, can now re-sell these environmentally sensitive sites to anyone, including big development. One of the conservancy’s new guiding principles includes “cultivating partnerships with the private sector … to recoup a portion of the public’s capital investment in these acquisitions for future high-priority projects through the sale of the banked development rights.” Translation: The conservancy now wants to buy up old motel rooms and become the tourist accomodation units (TAU) broker for the lake. Does this sound like preservation, protection and restoration to you? It sounds more like a cash-strapped agency trying to justify its existence, to me.
Since its inception in 1984, the conservancy has only transferred 32 properties, mostly for public utility easements and public access. The sale of asset lands is a totally new direction that should stop immediately until there is full public understanding of the implications from using the public’s money to further development. The public spent $108 million through the conservancy to purchase 4,600 parcels to reduce development. Another kicker — the conservancy plans to trade 1,200 acres to California State Parks (900+ acres at Burton Creek) and an additional 1,900 acres to the U.S. Forest Service. Who knows how many private parcels will be affected with this massive land swap?
What can we do? The agency should produce a public list of addresses and parcel numbers of the 400 alleged “asset lands” parcels. The conservancy owes it to every California citizen to have a full comparison and review of the agency’s old and new missions, as well as the significant change in course under its current leadership. The conservancy owes the public an explanation of the sharp turn it has taken with regard to Tahoe’s protected lands.
~ Ann Nichols is a 42-year Tahoe resident, California and Nevada real estate broker, president of the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, and member of the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee.
