The City of South Lake Tahoe Asks: What Do You Want to See at the Y?

Several South Lake Tahoe residents showed up at the presentation of the Tahoe Area Plan at the airport on Thursday. Most agreed that the area known as the "Y" needs to be changed with an area plan, but which direction to a take to a final plan is where people differ.

The evening consisted of a presentation by John Hitchcock, who is on loan to the city from the TRPA for this project as Planning Project Manager. After he spoke the group broke out into three breakout sessions, each focuses on one of three choices presented as the future concept for "Y" area.

Surveys have shown that most citizens want a "mountain feel" to the architecture, but what defines mountain feel is different to many. On display in the airport lobby were several photos of building matching different interpretations of the theme. Attendees placed stickers by the photos they felt best displayed mountain feel in their opinion.

Tahoe Valley Greenbelt

The greenbelt plan would concentrate on restoration, recreation, stormwater treatment as well as connectivity. The stormwater treatment areas would become biking and walking trails with amenities such as interpretive signs. The area would have enhanced pedestrian crossings and bike lanes.

Healthcare Campus

This plan would enhance the medical facilities surrounding Barton Hospital and improve access to the area.

Town Center Concept

The town center plan gives continuous landscapped buffers and ADA compliant sidewalks along Emerald Bay Road and Lake Tahoe Blvd. Public parking would be added along the greenbelt to increase access areas. Having the area be mixed use with large and small scale commercial, hotel and tourist uses and residential. The concept includes retail lined pedestrian areas, and closing Dunlap Avenue is being considered to add high visibility development.

Whatever happens in the Tahoe Area Plan will be the result of the public. Hitchcock said "this is your community, your vision." All three design concepts will focus on four key areas:

1) Creation of cohesive, pedestrian focused vibrant mixed-use business district that primarily serves local needs and appeals to the visitor since most travel through the Y to get to most activities in South Lake Tahoe.
2) Promote mountain identity through appropriate architectural and site design standards.
3) Connect the district and surrounding neighborhoods and increase the network of sidewalks, trails and access to public transit in order to reduce personal car use.
4) Creation of an attractive gateway to the city through design and restoration activities.

There are many more opportunities to get involved in the process. Hitchcock will be presenting the plan to the Planning Commission on March 17 at 3 p.m., to the City Council on April 1 at 9 a.m. and there will another workshop for the public in the near future.

"I am very excited that people are excited about the plan," said Hitchcock. "The response has been positive because people see the benefit of change and it's implementable.