The TRPA is proposing a misguided 20-year Regional Plan to increase the intensity of development in the Tahoe Basin, in an effort to entice more visitors and build the population of full-time residents.  Although the plan is still in the early stages of development, it is scheduled to go to a team of consultants for environmental review at the end of March. 

During the Pathway 2007 process, the TRPA solicited public input indicating that residents were interested in preserving the small-town, mountain character of their communities, yet this new Plan proposes to create minimum height and density requirements that will increase capacity, create larger structures that reduce view corridors, result in the need for more parking, increase traffic and congestion, and result in more cumulative environmental impacts.  Furthermore, the TRPA is planning to classify nine different areas of the Basin as “urban," including the communities of Homewood and Meyers! 

The League to Save Lake Tahoe strongly supports the appropriate use of “Smart Growth” principles in the redevelopment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.  We have long advocated the concentration of development through the transfer of existing deteriorated motel rooms and commercial uses from sensitive lands, and from areas where ‘sprawl’ has occurred such as the outskirts of South Lake Tahoe, into areas where patrons of these establishments can walk to the amenities that brought them to the area. 

The key to our vision, however, is the TRANSFER of existing units, rather than the addition of new units.  Lake Tahoe is an area that has already been developed beyond its capacities, especially the capacities of its roads to accommodate traffic and its watersheds to filter and cleanse runoff to the Lake.  We also insist that transfers be substantive in nature and not fig leaves for adding development, as when TRPA allows a single dilapidated motel room containing one double bed to be replaced through “transfer” by an ultra-luxury four-bedroom, four-bathroom ‘fractional residence’ with vastly greater traffic, paving, and other impacts.   

Why does the League feel so strongly about this issue?  Currently 75% of the environmental thresholds in the Basin are out of attainment, lake clarity is continuing to decline, and TMDL research is indicating that pollutant input into the Lake needs to undergo a drastic reduction, so adding a greater capacity for population, intensity of use, and associated environmental impacts in the Basin is clearly counterintuitive.  

If the “urbanization” of Lake Tahoe’s communities concerns you, please write to TRPA today.  We need to let them know that the Regional Plan as is currently developed is: 1) greatly flawed in its allowance for increased height and density of structures, and 2) not ready for environmental review.  Following the current path will only waste taxpayer money. 

Click here for more info and to send your comments today!  Comments must be received by March 24^th.