Dear Friends:

As our recent newsletters and alerts have continued to report, ongoing concerns with the push for significantly more development by our planning agencies have primarily related to increases in traffic congestion, resident and visitor population, wildfire danger/emergency access, and numerous environmental impacts, none of which have been comprehensively studied since 2012.

However, the impacts of these changes go beyond wildfire danger and emergency access. Our public service provider organizations have been overwhelmed and understaffed, yet are tasked with doing even more. This affects their ability to respond to other emergency situations including vehicle accidents, crimes, or health-related emergencies, to name a few. According to a recent article involving discussions with local providers, they are struggling to keep up:

“Tahoe’s policing organizations are gearing up for yet another winter season marked by unprepared motorists and a rising tide of agitated and irritable drivers — and questioning whether Tahoe’s infamous car crashes, hours long waits for police assistance, and unbearable traffic may just be the new normal.”  - SFGATE

Although our land use planning agencies cannot control all factors that affect emergency services and impacts, approving even more development without first assessing the current conditions and how they can be better managed to minimize impacts is literally a dangerous proposition. Are we looking at a future where these impacts are simply accepted as “the norm” so over-development can continue?

FOWS believes more can be done, and that is why we will continue to monitor and engage with the agencies and other organizations and community members to encourage responsible land use planning that protects both the environment and public health and safety. But we need help! FOWS is seeking people interested in joining our Board and/or assisting in committees involving land use planning and outreach/communication (including social media). Please contact me for more information!

As always, we will keep you updated on West Shore activities and other projects 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,

Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP)

After continued requests by FOWS, other organizations, and the public at large to perform an updated environmental impact report based on existing conditions were ignored, FOWS, the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, and TahoeCleanAir.org filed a lawsuit against Placer County’s October 2023 amendments to the Tahoe Basin Area Plan in November. We believe that traffic, visitation, the popularity of short-term vacation rentals (STRs), fire danger and emergency access, the extent of large projects proposed/approved in the west and north shore areas, and other conditions have significantly changed since 2012 and 2016 when the last more comprehensive environmental analyses were completed. Given these changes, the proposed amendments need to be reviewed and mitigated in the context of today’s environment. You can read the Press Release and other details in our last Newsletter.

As noted in our recent Alert, FOWS and partners have launched a fundraising campaign to help fund the costs of the lawsuit. We sincerely appreciate the generous donations that have been coming in to date! However, we still have a way to go to reach our goal of $40,000 and continue to seek additional donations, which are tax-deductible. At this time, the lawsuit is proceeding through the next steps prescribed by California law.

In the meantime, TRPA is moving forward with approving the Placer County TBAP amendments. The Regional Planning Committee will be hearing the item for possible recommendation to the TRPA Governing Board next Wednesday, January 24th, beginning no sooner than 12:45pm. The agenda, associated documents, and web link for those who wish to join online can be accessed here. FOWS will attend the meeting.

TRPA “Phase 2 Housing Amendments”

On 12/13/2023, the TRPA Governing Board approved another set of population and traffic-increasing amendments to their Regional Plan, impacting areas throughout the entire Basin. The Mountain Area Preservation has provided an extensive overview of the amendments, what they mean, and what the concerns are. As with the TBAP amendments, FOWS and others are concerned that the analysis of impacts is relying on outdated information from as far back as 2011 and therefore impacts have not been adequately analyzed nor mitigation identified. Several recent articles and opinion pieces have discussed these concerns, including:

• What’s Changed in Tahoe since 2012 Far More than TRPA Admits

• TRPA’s Tahoe Development Plans Disregard Residents’ Opposition

• Cronyism puts Tahoe at severe risk (includes information about an upcoming meeting on 1/23 by the Nevada Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of TRPA)

We are also considering our options on opposing these amendments; as with Placer’s changes, we believe an updated environmental impact study based on existing conditions is needed.

Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR)

The community-led group Keep Homewood Public (KHP) continues to work with TRPA and HMR/Discovery developers to ensure the resort complies with the approved Master Plan, which includes remaining open to the public and building in the "old Tahoe chalet" architectural style. While the developers have put out broad statements about public access and meeting other goals, there remains concern that the details don’t yet support this. For example, the potential for the cost of ski lift tickets and season passes to serve as a de-facto privatization of the resort by pricing out locals remains a concern; the public wants to see that the resort is required to maintain pricing that is compatible with other resorts in the Tahoe area.

TRPA has posted an update to their HMR page and is requiring an application to amend the approved Master Plan. TRPA is also requiring HMR to submit a public engagement plan as part of the application. KHP, FOWS, and others will continue to monitor the process.

8305 & 8307 Meeks Bay Ave. Development/Vacation Rentals

As detailed in past newsletters, the proposed rebuild of these lakefront properties into two mega-sized residences to be used as vacation rentals has been a concern of neighbors, community members, and FOWS. Local residents have been speaking with the properties’ owner aiming to address issues involving the proposed project. TRPA originally approved the Lot Line Adjustment that is needed to rebuild the second mega-home, however the decision was appealed by concerned neighbors and community members. At this time, no decision has been made on the appeal and the next TRPA Hearings Officer meeting has not been scheduled. Project information and materials can be accessed here. A newsletter will be going out to those interested in this project; please contact Dana Schneider if you are interested in more information.

Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project

We have not received any updates since our last newsletter. More information is available on the project’s website.