County planning chairman resigns

MINDEN - Citing increased business pressures, Douglas County Planning Commission Chairman Kevin Lane is resigning, effective Jan. 1.

"My company is just too busy," he said. "I just couldn't devote the time needed to benefit the community and since this is a master plan update year, I felt it would be best if I resigned."

Lane, 34, partners with his father, developer Randy Lane, in a company called Falcon Capital. Randy Lane handles the finances and Kevin Lane oversees the construction, property acquisitions and leasing for the company.

The two have been partners for 10 years.

"Dad has some health issues and can't be at this elevation all the time, so he's slowly handing me more responsibility," Kevin Lane said. "We are real estate developers, specializing in dealing with the TRPA."

In addition to numerous businesses, Lane is taking on a Lake Tahoe redevelopment project across from the gondola on Highway 50, the contract recently granted by the city of South Lake Tahoe. Groundbreaking is set for May of 2007, he said.

"We've already acquired a number of parcels and we're under contract for others to start asbestos abatement," Lane said. "It's a major undertaking for our corporation."

Lane said he has enjoyed his time on the planning commission.

"I appreciate the opportunity and I hope to do something like this in the future," he said. "It's been an interesting time for the future of Douglas County. A lot of things have happened. It's been a real education for me."

Lane said he isn't ruling out running for office in two or three years, but he's not interested in running for the county commission spot to be vacated by Tim Smith in 2006.

Lane's resignation, which occurred one year before his term was to expire, is one of three from the Douglas County's Planning Commission.

Larry Walsh, a finance manager for Tanamera Commercial Development, and Rick Gardner, an attorney, will leave this month, which marks the end of their respective four-year terms.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will appoint new planning commission members for this voluntary advisory board and the topic should be agendized for the upcoming County Commissioner's meeting in early January.