Public discussion called for in closure of Old Clear Creek Road

Some Carson City residents are calling for public meetings to discuss the recent decision of homeowners living along Old Clear Creek Road to close access to the public.

Commissioners at the Regional Transportation Committee meeting Wednesday evening agreed.

"Reasonable people can disagree, but it's always beneficial when they sit down with one another face to face," said chairwoman Shelly Aldean.

RTC officials presented the homeowners' plan to erect a gate across the privately owned road, closing access to hikers, bikers and horseback riders as well as motorists.

The narrow, winding, sometimes crumbling road climbs through Clear Creek canyon to a popular Forest Service trail that continues to Lake Tahoe.

The Old Clear Creek Road served as a highway between 1928 and 1957.

The current route of Highway 50 was dedicated by Gov. Charles Russell in 1957 in advance of the Squaw Valley Olympics in 1960. At that time, ownership of the road was passed to the residents.

City Manager Larry Werner said in those 60 years, there has been much controversy about which agency is responsible for the road that passes through land owned by the state, Carson City, Douglas County and tribal lands.

Although there was an effort in 2007 for Carson City and Douglas County to develop an agreement to take over maintenance of the road, residents ultimately decided against it after they were asked to foot the hefty bill to first bring it up to standards.

Instead, a recently formed homeowners group, Clear Creek, LLC, plans to close public access to Old Clear Creek Road about three miles up from Highway 395, according to a managing member of the board.

Residents are concerned about liability, Mike Arnold said at the time.

Two recreational users of the road attended Wednesday's meeting to voice their disapproval of closing the road.

Howard Reidl, who is a member of the Carson City Open Space Committee but spoke as a private citizen, said he was "shocked" to hear of the plans.

He argued that although it is a private road, public access should be maintained because of its lengthy history as a publicly accessed road.

"I do understand NDOT does not have the right-of-way," he said. "However, public use was never restricted."

Werner said that in past negotiations, the city has ceded public access rights to the road.

"That could always be revisited," he said.

Carson City resident Ron Leiken sent an e-mail saying a business trip made him unable to attend the meeting, but he sent his comments.

"I consider this to be a very important recreational bicycling route in the area, and it has been used for many years for this purpose," he said. "It is one of the few quiet 'back roads' in the area and is a very nice alternative to get an uphill workout rather than with the traffic and noise on Highway 50, Spooner Grade."

He ended his message pleading, "Please do not allow a gate to be installed on this road, or any other means to close it. Please keep it open at least to the many bicyclists who use this road."

Aldean said a staff member from the city would be appointed to arrange meetings between users of the road and homeowners to discuss possible solutions.