Final action expected Dec. 12 on Lake Tahoe Regional Plan Update

Closing out a multi-year process to update the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday, December 12 on the updated plan and supportive environmental documents at Harveys Resort convention center in Stateline. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. with brief statements by state leaders whose leadership resulted in key compromises allowing the plan to move forward, according to TRPA officials.

The Bi-State Compact agency adopted the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan in 1987, which set development caps for Lake Tahoe and established regulations aimed at restoring Lake Tahoe’s world-famous clarity, among many other environmental targets. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) committed to updating the plan this year with a priority focus on accelerating water quality restoration by supporting environmental redevelopment opportunities, improving permitting processes and encouraging more walkable communities and increased transportation options. Also up for consideration Wednesday is an update to the Regional Transportation Plan, which is called Mobility 2035.

“The updated plans will be a blueprint for Lake Tahoe’s sustainable future,” TRPA Executive Director Joanne Marchetta said. “Public participation has been tremendous and we have received an incredible degree of support for the plan update.”

Should the Board approve the plan update, then a framework for environmental improvement would be in place that allows Lake Tahoe communities to move forward on their vision for revitalization while keeping development caps in place, according to Marchetta.

Opening remarks are expected from Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Agency Director Leo Drozdoff and California Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird, who led a bi-state consultation group this summer that brought conservation groups, business advocates and local government representatives together to recommend solutions to the Governing Board on contentious points of the plan.

Building on input from nearly 5,000 local residents and visitors, the Agency expects final public comments on the plan to be held in the morning, with discussion and deliberation by the Governing Board and Advisory Planning Commission to follow in the afternoon. A live audio webcast of the meeting will be available from the TRPA website, www.trpa.org.

— Writer Jeff Cowen is the Communications Specialist for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. He can be reached at jcowen@trpa.org.