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$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
July/August 2021 Newsletter
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Dear Friends: As we’ve seen in the last few years, and especially last year during the COVID pandemic, Tahoe’s unique beauty and wide variety of recreational opportunities continues to draw an ever-increasing number of people to the basin. Unfortunately this further contributes to problems including congested roadways, inadequate parking management, user conflicts (e.g. on recreational trails), environmental impacts, and public health and safety concerns. |
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While our governing agencies are working on various projects and plans aimed to mitigate these impacts, we remain concerned that it’s not enough, especially when those same agencies continue to approve more projects that will bring even more people to the area without having adequately addressed these issues first. It’s a large problem to tackle and your engagement in the review and approval processes for developing projects or plans remains imperative. The more people who speak out on these issues, the more our representatives will listen. The Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project is one example as project leaders have made significant changes based on public feedback to date. We encourage you to remain involved and continue to speak up!
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FOWS has been enjoying the opportunity to once again engage with HOAs and other groups this summer. If we are not on your schedule yet, please contact me at jmtornese@aol.com to make arrangements, and we hope to see you soon! 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. Sincerely,
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Judith Tornese, President
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FOWS Annual Community Party
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FOWS hopes to once again hold our Annual Community Party this year, however our usual venue, West Shore Pizza, has closed and the building is currently undergoing renovations for a new pizza restaurant under new ownership. We hope to hold our Party at this new restaurant or another venue along the West Shore. Stay tuned!
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Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project
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The next (online) stakeholder forum is scheduled for 7/21. In the meantime, project leaders have created a “Town Hall website” where the public can review and comment on the latest iteration of the project alternatives prior to the meeting. We encourage you to visit the website and post your views. There will be an informational presentation to the TRPA Governing Board at their 7/28 hearing. While no decisions will be made, this provides another opportunity for public comment. As we have noted previously, there has been a disconnect between the views of some TRPA Board members in favor of motorized boat use and the West Shore community, which has overwhelmingly expressed support for a non-motorized recreational area. Therefore it is extremely important that the Board members hear comments directly from the public. The meeting agenda and packet will be posted here by the end of the day on 7/21. Information from previous meetings and other materials can be accessed here. At this time, the environmental analysis is still expected to be completed and circulated for public comment this fall.
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As noted in our previous newsletter, the developers of the Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR) recently proposed a revision to the design and configuration of a portion of the approved project. FOWS objected to the new “modern” design, which we believe is not consistent with what was analyzed in the environmental document and included in the HMR Master Plan (read FOWS’ objection here). FOWS also believes HMR and Placer County should have reached out to and engaged the public well in advance of the Placer County Design Review Committee (DRC) meeting in March where the revisions were brought forward, especially after the public spent years involved in the approval process. FOWS and others’ requests to return to the “mountain-style” look approved in the Master Plan led to modifications to some of the structures (e.g. adding more stonework to the exterior walls/chimney), however the developers were not willing to revise the new flat roof design. Unfortunately, although some members of the DRC also expressed unfavorable views of the flat roofs, they ultimately approved the new design on 6/26. An application to TRPA for a plan revision has not yet been submitted, however it does not appear a public process will be required for review.
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The Third District Court of Appeals will hold oral arguments in Sierra Watch’s lawsuit against Alterra’s Squaw Valley development Wednesday, July 21, at 2:00pm. Details, including how to watch online, will be provided here once available.
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Fanny Bridge/Tahoe City Wye
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In March, Placer County authorized $300,000 from lodging taxes toward funding of the new roundabout at the Tahoe City Wye, the replacement of Fanny Bridge, and improvements on the old SR 89 segment. The timing of construction has not yet been determined.
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Regional Planning Updates
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Recreational Trails Survey
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A public survey is being circulated to inform creation of the first Tahoe Regional Trails Plan, which aims to improve recreation at Tahoe by connecting and improving the network of dirt trails in the Lake Tahoe Basin and help increase funding for trail maintenance. The online survey is available in English and Spanish and will be open through mid-July. Residents, visitors, trail users, and non-trail users are all encouraged to take the survey to help TRPA and land managers throughout the region as they begin planning. Note that the US Forest Service recently proposed its own plan, which includes allowing electric bikes on several non-motorized dirt trails around the basin (which is not currently allowed). FOWS concerns on the proposal include increased user conflicts, lack of increased enforcement, and overuse of trails; this survey provides an additional opportunity to share feedback on these issues with the USFS and other agencies. Additionally, trail users are encouraged to submit reports of user conflicts on trails using an online web map, accessible here. Please visit www.tahoetrailsplan.org to learn more about the plan, take the survey, and submit trail conflict reports.
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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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