Dear Friends,

While it may feel like the public is engaged in a never-ending effort to try to protect the West Shore and Lake Tahoe, it is important to celebrate the victories that would not have happened without these efforts. For example:

• The Meeks Bay Restoration Project, as approved, will emphasize non-motorized public access and recreation as desired by most of the public;

• The Homewood Mountain Resort will remain open for public use; and

• Large-scale residential developments in Meeks Bay have been redesigned to alleviate concerns among neighbors.

These examples illustrate the importance of public involvement in planning for our communities and why we must continue to remain diligent in planning and development projects.

As always in our bi-monthly newsletters, we will keep you updated on West Shore activities and opportunities to participate in land use planning activities. 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,

** Looking for Land Use Technicians (paid) **

FOWS is also looking for part-time/as-needed paid consultants who are passionate about Lake Tahoe and the West Shore and experienced with land use planning and Tahoe’s regulatory environment. Projects would involve reviewing regulatory documents and proposals and/or environmental analyses related to specific subjects (i.e. water quality, transportation). Work would be part-time and on an as-needed basis. Please contact Judi Tornese if you are interested in learning more.

Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan (TBAP)

The TRPA Board approved the adoption of their “Phase 2 Housing Amendments” in March, which allow greater density, height, and other changes without adequately analyzing and mitigating impacts (including impacts to public safety from adding more people and vehicles to the Basin). 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. Despite extensive public comments opposing the Phase 2 Housing Amendments (notably 100% of the 133-pages of submitted public comments opposed the amendments), the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted on 11/18 to adopt the amendments.

All briefs associated with the lawsuit filed by FOWS and other organizations against Placer County’s October 2023 amendments have been submitted on both sides and the hearing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, at the old Courthouse in Auburn.

The TRPA housing amendments are mandated for adoption by all counties.

TRPA Housing Amendments

While FOWS supports the need to provide more affordable housing, TRPA’s continued push to reduce environmental protections and pack more people into the Basin - with outcomes that will likely just lead to more market-rate housing and large developments - defies the goals of the original TRPA Compact. The Compact prioritized protection of Lake Tahoe’s unique and sensitive environment and called for the protection of public safety. The phased “Housing Amendments” being pushed by the agency conflict with both goals. Worse yet, TRPA is mandating local governments adopt the amendments in their own local plans .

The ‘3rd phase’ of housing amendments (termed “Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin” by the TRPA) is already moving full-steam ahead. The recommended policies further strip away environmental protections and ignore the impacts to public safety associated with packing more people and vehicles into the Basin and impacts to emergency evacuations during a peak-period no-notice wildfire event.

TRPA held a “Workshop” for their Governing Board in November (see presentation and staff report). Policy recommendations include changes to the development rights system; for example, allowing “Bonus Units” to be used for market-rate housing (carefully-termed “unrestricted naturally affordable workforce housing” in TRPA’s materials). Bonus units are supposed to be reserved to deed-restricted units in order to incentivize affordable housing. Further, anyone who has paid attention to real estate prices in recent years knows that small units don’t necessarily guarantee affordable prices.

Another workshop will be held with TRPA’s Advisory Planning Commission (APC) on 12/10; FOWS encourages you to submit comments and/or attend and speak up at the meeting. The agenda will be posted here on 12/3.

Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR)

TRPA is still working with HMR to obtain a deed restriction to confirm the resort will be for recreational use only.

Meeks Ave. Lakefront Residences/Vacation Home Rentals

In late August, the owner of the lakefront properties at 8305 and 8307 Meeks Ave. submitted a new plan for the main house at 8307 the guest house at 8305 has already been constructed), which has been completely redesigned to address the many issues presented by Tahoe neighbors on the West Shore. The new design is significantly smaller and the facade and placement of the structure is more sensitive to its prominent location on Meek’s point. More information about the history and changes can be viewed in the October Hearings Officer (HO) summary.

Neighbors are also following another teardown/rebuild project at 8311 Meeks Ave. and hope the owners will engage with them to propose a design the community can support, however thus far the owners have not responded. In addition, a scenic assessment (evaluating views from the Lake) was prepared that included all three properties although 8311 Meeks Ave. has not gone through the full evaluation process. Fortunately, at the October HO hearing, the officer confirmed that the approval of the scenic assessment for the projects at 8305 and 8307 Meeks Ave. does not apply or get transferred to the 8311 Meeks Ave. project and will require a separate assessment.

Other updates

• Tahoe Keys Herbicide Use: The Sierra Club recently published this Opinion Article, which discusses how the discharge of chemicals into Lake Tahoe is being ‘green-washed’ by the agencies after their actions were ruled illegal by a court.

• Tahoe El Dorado Area Plan (“TED”): There are no new updates at this time. The release of a draft Area Plan is anticipated later this year/early 2026.

• Meeks Bay Resort: No updates.

• Palisades Tahoe: Residents are invited to attend a virtual informational meeting to learn about the amended Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan on December 1st at 6 p.m. The online meeting will provide updates on the reduced plan and include Alterra Mountain Company, owner and developer of Palisades Tahoe, as well as county staff.

** 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!