Squaw Valley tries to get support of their major redevelopment project

A proposed redevelopment plan for Squaw Valley would include affordable employee housing, new infrastructure including roads and fire safety, as well as environmental improvements according to Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC. They have kicked off and effort to communicate with the public and gain support through "Squaw Tomorrow" for what is being called the Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment project.

Since 2011, a plan has been in the works, but many plan changes have occurred through county review of the plans as well as public comment and through a Placer County Board of Supervisor appointed group called the Squaw Valley Design Review Committee.

As one can imagine, the new plan has had a lot of public engagement, and due to the high profile nature of this project and the applicant’s own public outreach efforts, the proposal received valuable input.

Squaw Valley wants to continue the community engagement and "educate Placer County residents about the project and its benefits," according to their press release.

“'Squaw Tomorrow' empowers Placer County residents to secure the future of their region,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings. “It is important that we move forward as a community: Finishing the Village at Squaw Valley on what is predominantly parking lots will provide tremendous benefits that will echo across our region, including annual funding for public transit, roads, schools and parks. Let’s ensure that this place we love thrives in the decades to come.”

The effort encourages Placer County residents to secure Squaw Valley’s future by supporting The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan, which would redevelop and complete the unfinished Village at Squaw Valley. The infill project would reestablish the resort as a premier mountain resort destination, ensuring it has a sustainable future. The project proposes that 90 percent of the redevelopment would happen on disturbed lands and existing asphalt parking lots already zoned for development. If approved, it will provide new on-site lodging and recreation opportunities, create more year-round local jobs, offer on-site affordable workforce housing, rehabilitate Squaw Creek, and provide over $22 million in annual tax revenue to help fund public services including schools, road improvements, transit services and public safety.

In response to community feedback, The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan has been reduced by 50 percent since inception, and is just 38 percent of what is allowable per the Squaw Valley General Plan and Land Use Ordinance. Most recently, the number of fractional cabins located in the western portion of the plan area was reduced from 31 to 21, and the proposed Mountain Adventure Camp was reduced from 108 to 96 feet tall. This brings the average building height of the project to 67 feet, which is comparable to a six-story building.

Dates have not yet been scheduled for Placer County Planning Commission and Placer County Board of Supervisors to vote on the Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan.

Visit SquawTomorrow.com to learn more about how to support The Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment plan as well as on the Placer County website.