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Redevelopment project at Lake Tahoe seeks agency, public approval

Page Last Updated: Tuesday November 17, 2009 12:00am PST

The Tahoe Biltmore at the stateline in North Lake Tahoe.

The quaint and historic landscape of Crystal Bay on Lake Tahoe's North Shore could soon be getting a modern-day makeover, dedicated to improving the lake's eroding environment.

The Boulder Bay project would redevelop the Tahoe Biltmore site in Crystal Bay. Plans include a health center, 300 hotel rooms, 59 condo units and a 10,000 square foot casino. A public park, pedestrian walkways and bike lanes will also be added.

The project is in the final stages of approval from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency as the environmental impacts are analyzed, according to Boulder Bay president Roger Wittenberg.

The new resort has plans to move away from the traditional gaming and party atmosphere associated with Northern Nevada. Boulder Bay's focus will be on health and wellness with a relaxing and rejuvenating environment.

"In effect, we can enjoy ourselves perhaps to a better standard while impacting the lake much less," Whittenberg said.

Kings Beach resident and community organizer Theresa Duggan says she was skeptical of the project at first, but now she is on board and can't wait for construction to start. She says the developer has listened to the concerns she and other residents have, and they have actually seen the project proposal change based on those concerns. For example, the original proposal included timeshares, but now the developer is not planning on any being at Boulder Bay because of resident concerns.

Duggan says many residents are now supporting the project, although there is still a minority who oppose it.

"We cannot continue on the road that we're on now. It's not sustainable. We've got to make improvements. This [Boulder Bay] embodies so much of what we are trying to do as a community," Duggan said.

The TRPA and project officials say public input is a major part of this project. The first public meeting dealing with the environmental impacts will be Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the Chateau at Incline Village.

Environmental Impacts

Whittenberg's vision is to create a resort that can improve the lives of people but also help solve the environmental problems Lake Tahoe is facing, like erosion. Another key issue is the world famous clarity of the lake.

"What we are talking about here is rebuilding some of the old stuff that is very offensive to the waters of Lake Tahoe to a much higher engineered standard," Whittenberg said.

Dennis Oliver, the spokesperson for the TRPA, says these are the types of projects that can save Lake Tahoe from poor development in previous years.

"We are really entering a period of time where we are fixing mistakes of the past," Oliver said. "We can't build the way we used to."

The TRPA released the draft of the Environmental Impact Statement earlier this month, kicking off two months of public comment.

Oliver said the report shows the Boulder Bay project would have significant water quality benefits for the lake.

Whittenberg says the project would reduce the amount of sediment runoff into Lake Tahoe by more than 90 percent through redevelopment, new technology, and sustainable products.

The plan is to get rid of the asphalt parking lots that drain into the lake. The company will be using a porous pavement that traps particles so only clean water reaches the lake's edge. Boulder Bay would also create underground parking lots to help prevent unnecessary runoff.

The company also says recycled paper will be used for insulation; snow melt will be used for toilets and irrigation; the furniture will be made of recycled fabric; and numerous water saving measures will be put in place.

"It's the next quantum leap towards improving the waters of Lake Tahoe," Whittenberg said.

Reinvention of Lake Tahoe's Economy

Boulder Bay officials say the North Shore is suffering from "neglect and lack of renewal." Crystal Bay is operating at 63 percent of its peak year in 2000, according to project's Web site.

Whittenberg and his team hope the unique project can revitalize the economy.

"[The area] lends itself to that outdoor experience. We believe there are going to be people interested in coming up here for that reason," Whittenberg said.

Boulder Bay's project manager says if everything is approved on time, he estimates they will break ground on the project in May 2011.

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