Long time local fights for public access at Connelly Beach

Janet McDougall used the public comment portion of a recent South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to speak of her concern that people would lose access to Connelly Beach. Council members took interest and the subject is on Tuesday's Council agenda.

McDougall, a resident of South Lake Tahoe since 1963 and a graduate of South Tahoe High in 1975, spent 17 years working in the city attorney's office in town. She said that during that time she saw a growing amount of beaches becoming unavailable to the public.

Since the issue of Connelly Beach has been publicized, McDougall says people have been coming out of the woodwork and contacting her.

"The public has rights to the beaches," said McDougall. "I saw weddings encroaching the beach (from the hotel) and the public being discouraged from using the beach."

In order to keep Connelly Beach public, McDougall has been researching the history and gathering facts on the City's history with the beach and the Tahoe for Tahoe group has been gathering signatures to show the public will fight for access. The City Attorney Tom Watson has also been researching the situation and will have a power point presentation at Tuesday's meeting.

What was once known at Surf & Sand Marina was a favorite of locals just as it is now. When the Timber Cove Marina motel was built in the 1970s in the area where Nel's Hardware once stood, residents were tasked with showing authorities that the beach area was used by families for at least five years. The photos and stories presented during hearings helped judges pass judgement making Connelly Beach public with a requirement for the motel to maintain 18 parking spaces for beach goers.

When the original plan for the motel was presented to the City and TRPA there were major issues since it didn't fit the general plan according to McDougall. An agreement was made between HKM, the developer, and the City for the protection of Connelly Beach. Once the motel was built, HKM tried to get the beach made private. Courts said no, and the public access lines were determined.

"HKM’s property between the low water mark and the high water mark is “impressed with the public trust easement for the purposes of commerce, navigation,
fishing, recreation and/or preservation of the environment in its natural state. This easement is owned by the state and is administered by the State
Land Commission," according to court documents.

After McDougall and Watson's presentation on Tuesday the Council may take a form of action.