Sierra Pacific Industries and East West Partners along with Sierra Watch and Mountain Area Preservation have entered into a conservation and development agreement that would transfer development designations between two large parcels of land owned by Sierra Pacific Industries on both the East and West sides of Hwy 267. In the 6,376 acre East Parcel 670 acres are zoned for 6.6 acres of commercial and 1360 residential unit development. Under the terms of the agreement, the 670 acres would be rezoned to forest, and the entire 6,376-acre parcel would be designated as permanent open space secured by a conservation easement or sold fee simple to conservation groups. No development would be allowed on the East Parcel. Simultaneously, 775 acres of the West Parcel of 1,192 acres would be designated for future development. Only 760 residential units and 6.6 acres of commercial area would be developed and the remaining 600 residential units allowed under the existing zoning for the East Parcel would be retired. The remaining 417 acres would retain its current designation of Forest. Included in the 775 acres would be a gated community of 112 residential units on approximately 30 acres of the 85 acres located in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This part of the agreement falls under the jurisdiction of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Under current regulations, if approved by TRPA, 112 existing residential units within the Tahoe Basin would have to be removed.
The part of this proposed development that is in the Tahoe Basin has already raised concerns with several noted environmental groups: the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, the League to Save Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Club. There seems to be agreement that preserving land in Martis Valley is a good thing but doing so by development of a gated ridge top community in the Tahoe Basin may not be the right method.
Public review of the proposal has already begun. The upcoming meetings are to be held on the following dates:
• October 20th – project overview before the Placer County Board of Supervisors at the Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley. • October 29th – project overview before the Truckee Tahoe Airport District board of directors at the airport. • April 16th – notice of preparation scoping before Placer County Community Meetings • April 24th – notice of preparation for EIR/EIS before TRPA Governing Board and Regional Plan Implementation Committee • May 8th – project overview before Placer County North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council • May 28th – project schedule update before TRPA Regional Plan Implementation Committee • July 17th – specific plan and area plan public workshop before Placer County Planning
For more information, click on the following links:
- Sierra Sun: “Public review coming soon for Sierra rezoning development proposal”
- Martis Valley West Parcel Facts (Sierra Pacific/East West Partners website)
- Placer County Planning.
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