Mixed use and neighborhood commercial zoning in East Fork Township could be opened to vacation home rentals if a petition to ban the rentals in Lake Tahoe neighborhoods is successful.
With all the controversy over the Vacation Home Rental ordinances, it’s no surprise that five people applied for two open seats on the board.
On Tuesday, members of the Douglas County Planning Commission recommended denial of an ordinance that would prohibit vacation home rentals north of Cave Rock.
A petition is currently being circulated to ban all vacation home rentals from residential neighborhoods. That petition would also open the possibility of bringing vacation rentals to neighborhood commercial zones in the East Fork Township.
Vacation Home Rental Advisory Board Chairwoman Mickie Hempler and recent appointee Glenn Wolfson are among five applicants seeking reappointment to the board.
Wolfson also serves on the Zephyr Cove General Improvement District Board.
Longtime property management company co-owner Heidi Gunter is seeking one of the seats. Gunter has been a regular commenter at board meetings. Her company manages 45 homes at the Lake.
Thirty-seven-year Zephyr Cove resident Terri Zager has also applied for the board. Zager operates a vacation home rental and would be eligible for Wolfson’s seat.
The fifth applicant is Nevada Motor Carrier Division Administrator Michael Xavier.
An Indian Hills resident, Xavier filed for several different boards, including the Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife, Planning Commission and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee. He is the only applicant for the Audit Committee.
Gardnerville resident Patti Graf’s term as the only East Fork representative on the board doesn’t expire until Dec. 31, 2025, so there isn’t a seat for Xavier under the current ordinance.
Commissioners will also be making appointments to a variety of boards, including the Planning Commission.
Former Douglas County Community Development Manager Mimi Moss is seeking one of two open seats on the Douglas County Planning Commission.
Moss, a Minden resident, worked 24 years for the county planning department, 11 of those as its manager.
Metcalf Builders President Bryce Clutts is seeking reappointment to the board.
Three-year Gardnerville Ranchos resident Amanda Holland, who said her interest in the board was piqued by the discussion on the Bing Pit, is seeking one of the seats, as is Xavier.
Member Kenneth Paxton is not seeking reappointment to the seven-member board.
Veteran Parks & Recreation Advisory Board members Gary Dove, Debra Lang and Cherise Smith are seeking reappointment.
As the only applicant for the Tahoe Township seat, Smith is a lock, but Dove and Lang are being challenged by Xavier.
Douglas County Library Trustees Starla Doughty and Jimayne Merkow are seeking reappointment on Thursday. Member Kimberly Estee resigned, so there are three seats available on the board.
Longtime Carson Valley Middle School Librarian Martha Betcher is seeking a seat as is former New York library board member and recent Genoa resident Theresa Oliveira. It’s Oliveira’s fourth time to apply for the board. She is on the board of the Friends of the Library.
Betcher retired from the school district six years ago and once worked for the library.
