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$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
Dear Friends: FOWS strives to keep you updated and engaged regarding projects and plans that affect the beautiful West Shore of Lake Tahoe. We appreciate the ongoing support from our members, other organizations, and interested public. Each summer, FOWS Board members attend numerous Homeowner Association (HOA) meetings to keep members apprised of local and regional planning activities and hear feedback and views of our community. COVID protocols made this difficult in 2020, however we hope for the opportunity to once again engage with HOAs and other groups this summer. Please contact me at jmtornese@aol.com to make arrangements, and we hope to see you soon! |
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As always, we look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to contact us with any additional ideas or questions you may have.
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Judith Tornese, President
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FOWS is seeking new Board Members!
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FOWS is looking for a few good men and women to join our Board of Directors and bring new skills and insights to our organization. If you are interested in helping to maintain the beauty and rustic quality of the West Shore, please contact Judi Tornese at jmtornese@aol.com for additional information.
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Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project
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Project organizers have just announced that the next stakeholder forum has been scheduled for 7/21 and there will be an informational presentation to the TRPA Governing Board at their 7/28 hearing. The announcement states: Over the past few months, the Project Team and consultants have been analyzing the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project alternatives with the goal of presenting to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board at their July 28 meeting (exact time TBA). At this meeting, the following will be shared: 1) the public participation process to date and going forward; 2) the proposed alternatives; and 3) the methodology/rationale that the lead agencies will use in selecting the preferred alternative. The presentation will be informational only and no formal action will be taken on the project, but there is an opportunity for public comment. The meeting agenda and registration will be available here seven days prior to the meeting. To help inform this presentation, a newly created “Open Town Hall” webtool has been created to solicit feedback on the specific design elements of each proposed alternative. A link to this webtool has been added in the “Get Involved” and “Alternatives” portions of the existing project website and an e-mail will be sent to everyone on the project’s mailing list informing them of the website. Your help in spreading the word about this webtool is appreciated.”
Information from previous meetings and other materials can be accessed here. At this time, the environmental analysis is expected to be completed and circulated for public comment this fall.
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The developers of the Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR) have proposed a revision to the approved project and associated phasing of construction. As we noted in our recent alert, HMR has proposed changes to the residential units and circulation pattern on the portion of the gravel parking lot that lies south of Fawn St. and south of North Lodge Area. The project was reviewed by the Placer County Design Review Committee on 3/23 and will be brought back before the Committee for final approval on 5/25. The agenda and staff report will be posted here at least one week prior to the meeting. Visual simulations were presented at the 3/23 DRC meeting that had not been available previously (example below). The revised architecture is quite different from what was approved in the Master Plan. At this time, the change is only proposed for the buildings in this one area; no mention has been made as to whether the rest of the village would be revised to match this new architecture. FOWS has been working to schedule a meeting with HMR prior to the 5/25 DRC hearing to discuss this further.
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Visual simulation of proposed architectural design from 3/23 Design Review Committee meeting. |
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Visual simulation of architectural design from approved Master Plan |
USFS Electric Bike Proposal
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The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) recently held a public comment scoping period to obtain public comments regarding a proposed project that would allow electric-bikes (“e-bikes”) on selected paved and unpaved trails around the Basin. As noted in our recent Alert, the proposal affects several trails (existing and new) along the West Shore. According to a recent news article, the USFS received hundreds of comments on the proposal, with comments roughly split between those who support the proposal and those who oppose it. FOWS submitted comments on the proposal, highlighting concerns with the lack of enforcement in the proposed project and impacts of increased trail use, especially given over-use has already been a problem.
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Improved Public Access to Lake Tahoe by Obexer’s
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Placer County has approved an agreement with Obexer’s for improved public beach access in Homewood. As part of the Agreement, Obexer’s will grant the county three 15-foot wide Public Access Areas and shall allow public use of the North and South Beach Areas, which will be open to the public in June 2021. The Agreement states that within the next four years, Obexer’s will construct pathways for Access Areas A, C, and D. Obexer’s has also committed to pursuing a loop road for improved vehicular access (Access B). All improvements would require the appropriate permits to be obtained. For more information, the Board of Supervisors hearing of this item can be viewed here. |
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Other West Shore Projects
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Regional Planning Updates
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TRPA Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Threshold Update
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At their 4/28 Governing Board (GB) meeting, TRPA approved the elimination of the transportation-related VMT standard that previously placed a maximum limit (capacity) on the total miles driven by all vehicles in the Basin over a one day period and replaced it with a standard based solely on limiting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (which does not include a total daily limit). While FOWS is supportive of the adoption of a GHG standard, FOWS believes a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions and the best available science should have been conducted prior to deleting the capacity-based standard. VMT not only leads to water and air pollution, but allowing unlimited daily VMT growth (as the GHG-based standard does) can also be expected to result in more traffic and congestion that impedes emergency access and evacuation routes and places more people in harm’s way. Although we do not support the deletion of the capacity-based VMT standard, FOWS appreciates that staff worked with numerous stakeholders to identify changes to the Regional Transportation Plan Update (approved at the same hearing - more below) that will improve monitoring, funding, and adaptive management for future transportation planning.
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TRPA Regional Transportation Plan Update
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As noted above, TRPA approved the Regional Transportation Plan Update (RTPU) at their 4/28 GB hearing. FOWS has expressed concern with several aspects of the RTPU in the past, including the allowance for a net increase in total (capacity-based) VMT and a lack of stronger measures to address peak visitor traffic, especially day-only drivers. We hope the stronger tie to funding levels and additional adaptive management measures included in the RTPU will provide the benefits anticipated by the agency.
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We depend on your generous donations to help us research, represent, support, and inform the West Shore. We gratefully accept check, credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo. Click the Donate button to make a contribution and also learn how you can designate FOWS to receive donations from AmazonSmile and eScrips. FOWS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services have been provided. EIN#46-1356084
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We invite you to contact us to learn more, ask questions, or simply get to know the FOWS Board. Jennifer Quashnick, Conservation Consultant Judith Tornese, President
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