North Tahoe residents and other interested parties turned out at the North Tahoe Community Conference Center Wednesday night to see what the Kings Beach Community Core Improvement Project is all about.

Representatives from Placer County, Caltrans, the Sierra Business Council, the North Tahoe Public Utility District and the North Tahoe Business Association, as well as engineers, contractors and experts on subjects ranging from water quality to sidewalks, were present to answer questions.

The open house provided an opportunity for planners to inform the public about the project and solicit opinions about the best way to reconstruct the downtown area in Kings Beach.

A series of four public workshops to review the alternatives of the proposed renovation of Kings Beach will begin May 1 with a forum at the North Tahoe Conference Center. A workshop the next day will be conducted in Spanish.

The Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project is in the public review phase. Four Highway 28 roadway alternatives are under consideration, and community input gathered at the upcoming workshops will determine the preferred alternative.

The Placer County Department of Public Works has hired the Sierra Business Council to facilitate the workshops and educate the community about the alternatives. The Council seeks to reach a consensus by the end of May for a preferred alternative. Public comment is vital to finding the best alternative.

Workshop 1

May 1 at 6 p.m. in the North Tahoe Conference Center

The first workshop will present detailed information on the four roadway alternatives. This is the opportunity for the community to ask questions and gain a better understanding of the issues related to this project.

Workshop 2

May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Kings Beach Elementary School Gym

This workshop will provide the same information as Workshop 1, but it will be held in Spanish.

Workshop 3

May 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the North Tahoe Conference Center

The process of making a community-wide decision regarding the roadway alternatives will be the focus of the third workshop. Attendees will be asked to participate outdoors in an interactive exercise in order to inform their decisions and move toward a community consensus for a preferred roadway alternative.

Workshop 4

May 29 at 6 p.m. in the North Tahoe Community Conference Center

The goal of the fourth workshop will be to reach community consensus on a preferred roadway alternative.

For detailed project information, the Placer County Department of Public Works’ Web site at www.placer.ca.gov/Works/Projects/KingsBeach.aspx

The Commercial Core Alternatives <b>• Alternative One: Leave everything the way it is.</b> <b>• Alternative Two: Reduce Highway 28 to three lanes, construct roundabouts at the intersections of Highway 28 with Bear and Coon streets, sidewalks are 9 feet wide, parking is allowed along Highway 28, except during two months in the middle of summer.</b> <b>• Alternative Three: Highway 28 stays at four lanes, traffic lights at the intersections of Highway 28 and Bear and Coon streets, sidewalks are 5.5 feet wide, and parking is allowed along Highway 28 all year long.</b> <b>• Alternative Four: Highway 28 is reduced to three lanes, roundabouts are placed at the intersections of Highway 28 and Bear and Coon streets, sidewalks are 17 feet wide, and no parking is allowed along Highway 28.</b>

Cathy Strand — Kings Beach

“Aesthetic improvement, pedestrian sidewalks, pedestrian friendly and safe.”

Gretchen Wagonback — Kings Beach

“I’m leaning toward alternative two. I think it needs a loading zone and temporary 15-minute parking ... I think it’s aesthetically nicer and businesses need on-street parking.”

Dave Berry — Kings Beach

“I’d like to see improvements to the downtown area; sidewalks, bike lanes, good traffic flow.”

Tim Snyder — Agate Bay

“I’m leaning toward alternative three. I think we still need a couple of lanes. I think they should be watching the traffic better ... They need to work on the lights a little better. We’d push the button and it wouldn’t respond. We’d have to cross the street with no light.”

Kerrin Meeko — Kings Beach

"I like alternative four. The only reason why I don't is it's one lane. I like the sidewalks, but who will shovel the snow and take care of them? The parking lots, the locals will know where the parking is while the tourist will be driving around on Highway 28 trying to find them."