Dear Friends:

A major thread any many of our efforts in recent years has been related to increased developments and population-increasing plan amendments amidst increasing wildfire danger, traffic, and the failure to adequately plan for evacuations and emergency access. FOWS is not alone; numerous other organizations collectively representing thousands of residents and homeowners and an even larger number of visitors, have taken more extensive actions after the agencies have failed to adequately address these issues, including but not limited to:

• Filing lawsuits or Objections when agencies fail to analyze the impacts, such as in the lawsuit FOWS joined against Placer County’s 2023 Area Plan amendments, or the Sierra Watch’s and League to Save Lake Tahoe’s lawsuit against Placer County’s November 2024 approval of the massive Palisades Tahoe Village (for the second time).

• Funding studies to try to fill the gaps left by the agencies’ failures (TahoeCleanAir.org).

At the same time that the agencies put efforts towards drawing more people to the Basin, federal activities have led to substantial cuts in staff, volunteers, and funding for the management of a majority of the natural resources that draw people to our area - Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains - and the public safety officials who protect us (i.e. firefighters).

The agencies’ pro-development activities and amendments also threaten our environmental resources. Although TRPA’s most recent “Threshold Evaluation” presents a favorable picture, there are many questions regarding the details and scientific viability (in addition to the not-so-user-friendly “report” that requires navigating a multi-layered maze of webpages to read).

Amidst this ongoing pro-development pressure, the public must remain diligent and continue to participate in the agency planning processes. As always, we will keep you updated on West Shore activities and opportunities to participate in our bi-monthly newsletters. We look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to contact us with any additional ideas or questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Attention HOAs and other community groups!

As in previous summers, FOWS will again be making presentations at West Shore homeowner meetings throughout the summer. Please contact me at jmtornese@aol.com if a FOWS Board member can speak for about 10 minutes at your HOA meeting to update your members on what's happening on the West Shore. Alternatively, we can provide a brief written update on the status of West Shore projects which can be distributed to your members at your meeting.

FOWS Recent Social Media Survey

We would like to thanks those who responded to our recent social media survey. This information will help us to focus our efforts towards the resources that you find most helpful. For those who are interested, the results can be viewed here.

** Volunteers needed! **

FOWS is seeking volunteers to help us improve our use of social media for education and outreach. Please contact us if you are interested and available!

Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP)

The TRPA Board approved the adoption of their “Phase 2 Housing Amendments” in March, which allow even more density, height, and other changes. For these Phase 2 amendments to take effect in Placer County, the TRPA Code requires the county’s Board of Supervisors to vote to amend Placer’s Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP) to incorporate TRPA’s amendments. The county recently agreed to adopt TRPA's more onerous amendments and is currently initiating the associated environmental review and anticipates public hearings for this vote later this year.

At this time, the lawsuit filed by FOWS and other organizations against Placer County’s October 2023 amendments is proceeding through the next steps prescribed by California law.

TRPA Housing Amendments

The 3rd ‘phase’ of housing amendments (termed “Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin” by the TRPA) is currently being developed by the Tahoe Living Working Group. A meeting was held on May 19 to introduce a “Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin Growth Management Strategy Briefing Book” that will support upcoming TLWG working group policy sessions on June 23 and 24th. FOWS and others have expressed numerous concerns over the amendments that resulted from the first two ‘phases’ prepared by this group and has repeatedly asked the agencies to examine current environmental and safety conditions before adding more people and vehicles to already congested areas. Thus far the agencies continue to approve such changes without evaluating the potential impacts based on current conditions. FOWS will continue to monitor the next phase.

Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR)

HMR has approvals to do earthwork and install pads for the new gondola towers, however the building permit for the construction of the gondola was not obtained in time to secure the gondola installers for the 2025-26 ski season.

The community group Keep Homewood Public will continue to monitor future development of the resort for compliance with the approved Master Plan and recently-approved amendment. Background documents and information about the Master Plan amendment approved in January are on TRPA’s Homewood Mountain Resort information page.

Rubicon Trail Parking Lot Expansion Project

El Dorado County is planning a project at the Rubicon Trail staging area in Tahoma which would include 32 – 34 additional trailer parking spaces and the closing of roadside shoulders to reduce overflow parking. Learn more here.

There are several ways you can provide input:

• Attend the informational public meeting on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Granlibakken (5-7 p.m.).

• Complete an online survey on their project website or scan the QR code at this link.

• Call the County’s Parks & Trails Division at (530) 621-5360 and leave your input with staff.

Meeks Bay Ave. Development/Vacation Rentals

The proposed rebuild of two historic adjacent lakefront properties in Meeks Bay into large residences to be used as vacation rentals has been a concern of neighbors and community members. In response to public concerns and efforts, the owner has redesigned the larger of the two homes to include a significant reduction in size, improve the scenic screening to reduce visual impacts from the lake, and make other changes. A third home in the area has also proposed a teardown/rebuild to construct a larger residence although the owners do not have a vacation rental permit.

While community efforts have helped reduce the size and scale of these proposals, FOWS remains concerned that without changes to agency regulations and code interpretations, the construction of massively-sized homes that can act as mini-hotels or event centers will continue to be allowed in quiet residential neighborhoods. Please contact FOWS Board Member Dana Schneider at danafschneider@gmail.com if you are interested in more information.

US Forest Service Electric-bikes and Trails Project

The USFS recently approved a plan that will allow Class 1 e-bikes on many dirt trails around the Tahoe Basin National Forest Lands. FOWS concerns include:

• User conflicts among hikers, bikers, e-bikers and equestrians;

• Public safety;

• The difficulty in distinguishing between different classes of e-bikes (since not all classes of e-bikes would be allowed); and

• Limited USFS staff to enforce regulations.

While the USFS recognized that conflicts already currently exist and e-bikes can exacerbate those problems, they justified the approval by claiming public education and enforcement will mitigate the conflicts. However, the Basin already lacked adequate enforcement staff - and that was before the recent cuts to federal employees. FOWS joined others like Sierra Club to file Objections.

Friends supports e-bikes on paved trails with enough width to accommodate all users.

Other updates

• Tahoe El Dorado Area Plan (“TED”): There are no new updates at this time. Agency coordinators have stated that a new survey will be posted to the TED website soon as they move into Phase 2.

• Fanny Bridge Rebuild: The Fanny Bridge will be demolished and replaced starting mid-summer.