Regional plan update

The TRPA is currently developing its next 20-year Regional Plan, a document that guides all aspects of land management, development, and planning in the Basin.  It is critical that the Regional Plan is strong in its protection for the Lake, especially considering that 75% of Tahoe’s environmental standards are currently out of attainment, lake clarity is continuing to decline, and research is indicating that pollutant input into the Lake needs to undergo a drastic reduction.

The TRPA is moving in a troubling direction, however.  Its most recent draft of the updated plan will drastically increase the intensity of development in the Tahoe Basin.  The plan will increase capacity for more visitors and build the population of full-time residents.  It proposes to create minimum height and density requirements that will 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! 

During the fall of 2009 the League joined forces with numerous Lake Tahoe community groups and conservation organizations to voice concerns with the current Regional Plan process. Due to a lack of full transparency in the planning process we were forced to submit an official California Public Records Act request to obtain documents related the the Regional Plan Draft Alternatives. To read the letter submitted to the TRPA click here.

The League has also jointly submitted numerous comment letters to the TRPA staff on various elements of the Regional Plan Update including Land Use, Air Quality, Transportation, and Conservation.

Regional Plan Public Meetings

The July, 2010 TRPA Governing Board meeting will be discussing the Conservation Element of the Regional Plan Update, which will include wildlife & fisheries, vegetation, soil conservation, and monitoring & evaluation. The meeting will be held at the North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach, Wednesday, July 28. For more information on this meeting and how to make comments visit the TRPA Governing Board.