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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Dozens of people attended first-time “Fire and Ice” festivities at Ski Run Marina on New Year’s Eve, and more events could be coming to the area following a decision by the South Lake Tahoe Planning Commission.
On Thursday, the commission unanimously approved a request by the Ski Run Business Improvement District for an on-going special events permit.
“We have found this is a tremendous thing, and I think we need to give it a try,” Commissioner Bill Ottman said in approving the permit.
The permit will allow “temporary activities such as arts and crafts shows, farmers markets, street fairs and outdoor activities” at the marina, as well as the lots fronting Ski Run Boulevard between Aspen and Birch avenues, according to a city staff report.
Events could take place in the area for no more than 10 hours between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and lanes on Ski Run Boulevard could be closed to vehicle traffic for the events, according to the report.
Commissioner Joy Curry expressed concerns that the permit would result in more arts and crafts fairs coming to the city. The numerous fairs which already exist in the summer do not offer high-quality merchandise and largely benefit out-of-town merchants, Curry said.
“They take away from local business,” Curry said.
Assistant city planner Judy Finn noted that the fairs are required to donate money to local nonprofit organizations.
Ski Run BID President Brian DesRochers said BID members don’t envision using the permit to host craft fairs. “We’d like to see a higher quality, a higher stature of event,” DesRochers said.
In response to Curry’s concerns, the commission added a stipulation to the permit, allowing only judged art and crafts fairs in the Ski Run Boulevard special events area.
Those fairs bring better-quality merchandise, Curry said.
Commission members also added conditions to the permit, limiting events to outdoor areas, preventing the addition of commercial floor area, requiring adherence to the city’s seasonal project regulations and preventing the events under the permit from using a temporary parking lot at Ski Run Marina.
The BID will also need to provide planning staff with a set of standards to ensure that events will not detract from the surrounding neighborhood.
Noel Parish, a homeowner in the Ski Run neighborhood, expressed concerns about events in the area limiting parking, creating litter and encouraging public urination on private property.
“I’m not against special events,” Parish said. “I don’t think someone has chosen the right place to put on these events.”
“There has got to be someplace else,” Parish added.
The police and public works departments have said there would not be a problem routing traffic around Ski Run Boulevard, Finn said.
And BID members vowed to correct any problems that arise during special events at the boulevard.
Alder Inn owner and BID member Joseph Balius said Ski Run Boulevard is an ideal place for special events, and the commission’s approval will be another step toward making the boulevard “the center of town.”
DesRochers expects the first event under the permit to be a Tahoe Tallac Association South Lake Tahoe Arts and Wine Festival on June 13-14.
On Thursday, the commission unanimously approved a request by the Ski Run Business Improvement District for an on-going special events permit.
“We have found this is a tremendous thing, and I think we need to give it a try,” Commissioner Bill Ottman said in approving the permit.
The permit will allow “temporary activities such as arts and crafts shows, farmers markets, street fairs and outdoor activities” at the marina, as well as the lots fronting Ski Run Boulevard between Aspen and Birch avenues, according to a city staff report.
Events could take place in the area for no more than 10 hours between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and lanes on Ski Run Boulevard could be closed to vehicle traffic for the events, according to the report.
Commissioner Joy Curry expressed concerns that the permit would result in more arts and crafts fairs coming to the city. The numerous fairs which already exist in the summer do not offer high-quality merchandise and largely benefit out-of-town merchants, Curry said.
“They take away from local business,” Curry said.
Assistant city planner Judy Finn noted that the fairs are required to donate money to local nonprofit organizations.
Ski Run BID President Brian DesRochers said BID members don’t envision using the permit to host craft fairs. “We’d like to see a higher quality, a higher stature of event,” DesRochers said.
In response to Curry’s concerns, the commission added a stipulation to the permit, allowing only judged art and crafts fairs in the Ski Run Boulevard special events area.
Those fairs bring better-quality merchandise, Curry said.
Commission members also added conditions to the permit, limiting events to outdoor areas, preventing the addition of commercial floor area, requiring adherence to the city’s seasonal project regulations and preventing the events under the permit from using a temporary parking lot at Ski Run Marina.
The BID will also need to provide planning staff with a set of standards to ensure that events will not detract from the surrounding neighborhood.
Noel Parish, a homeowner in the Ski Run neighborhood, expressed concerns about events in the area limiting parking, creating litter and encouraging public urination on private property.
“I’m not against special events,” Parish said. “I don’t think someone has chosen the right place to put on these events.”
“There has got to be someplace else,” Parish added.
The police and public works departments have said there would not be a problem routing traffic around Ski Run Boulevard, Finn said.
And BID members vowed to correct any problems that arise during special events at the boulevard.
Alder Inn owner and BID member Joseph Balius said Ski Run Boulevard is an ideal place for special events, and the commission’s approval will be another step toward making the boulevard “the center of town.”
DesRochers expects the first event under the permit to be a Tahoe Tallac Association South Lake Tahoe Arts and Wine Festival on June 13-14.
