TRPA approves plans for Lake Tahoe Community College dormitory

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - During its meeting on Wednesday, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board unanimously approved a 33-room, 100-bed dormitory for Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) in South Lake Tahoe.

The dorms will be deed-restricted for low-income LTCC students from the Lake Tahoe region and California only. The target date for opening is July 1, 2025.

LTCC President/Superintendent Jeff DeFranco told the board during his presentation that the cost for students will be $500/month and will include all utilities, including internet. The rooms will include kitchenettes and there will be a larger kitchen in the facility to accommodate group functions for residents.

A firm hired by the college said the annual demand for student housing was figured to be 200 students.

“We commend the college for helping provide new affordable housing options to its students, whose educational pursuits are often thwarted by a lack of housing,” TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan said. “Solutions to the housing crisis in the Tahoe Region are coming from every direction and this project is a shining example of the kind of progress we can make when we work together.”

When completed, LTCC will be just 11 California community colleges to receive state funding for housing projects under a new initiative to address housing affordability in communities throughout the state. The expedited permit process helped the college meet the tight timelines required by the $39 million grant.

There are several environmental benefits of the project including the reduction of vehicle trips to and from campus, and heated sidewalks that will reduce the need for snow removal equipment and de-icing. Just five additional parking spaces will be needed due to the other available parking on campus.

The college already installed an electric bus mobility hub to accommodate charging stations for electric buses, helping students with connectivity to the community. The campus also contributed to the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway Trail which goes right by the dorm.

TRPA staff found the project was consistent with their codes.

Pursuant to TRPA Code, the maximum number of residential bonus units which may be permitted for this Community Plan area is 20 units. The City of South Lake Tahoe will provide the rest of the 41 needed by converting 14 banked tourist accommodation units to 21 multi-family residential units of use and will transfer them to the college.

The only public comment received was from the Tahoe Prosperity Center which gave its full support.

View a 2.5 minute "fly-through" of the project - https://jkarchitectureengineering.app.box.com/s/glny7bqp9zy6099ikpyr8qccoosxg94d.