Meyers Area Plan topic of three upcoming meetings

Meyers, the commercial, public services, and recreation hub of unincorporated El Dorado County at the South Shore may soon have a new area plan and there are three upcoming public meetings on the plan. It could be adopted at the third meeting, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) board meeting on February 28.

The TRPA Advisory Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Meyers Area Plan at their January 10, 2018 meeting. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held at TRPA's Office at 128 Market Street, Stateline, NV. The agenda for the meeting is here.

Also, TRPA's Regional Plan Implementation Committee will hold a public hearing on the Meyers Area Plan at their January 24, 2018 meeting. The Committee typically meets after the TRPA Governing Board and will be held at the North Tahoe Events Center, 8318 N Lake Blvd, Kings Beach, CA. The agenda is not yet available.

Finally, TRPA's Governing Board will consider adoption of the Meyers Area Plan at their February 28, 2018 meeting. The meeting will be held at TRPA's Office at 128 Market Street, Stateline, NV. The agenda is not yet available.

The Meyers Area Plan is the comprehensive long-term plan for the Meyers Community and, if approved, will replace the original Meyers Community Plan (MCP) adopted in 1993. The MCP currently serves as the comprehensive land use and zoning plan for the community of Meyers, consistent with the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and the El Dorado County General Plan. It was originally meant to last a decade, not the almost 25 years its been in place.

In 2012, the first community visioning workshop and stakeholder interviews were held and the Meyers Advisory Council (MAC) was selected. They held meetings and worked closely with El Dorado County, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the public to update the existing Meyers Community Plan and convert it into the Meyers Area Plan.

The proposed Meyers Area Plan (MAP) builds upon the MCP and maintains many of the same vision, policies and priorities. If adopted by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, will replace the original plan.

The MAP consolidates three existing Commercial and Community Services Zoning Districts along US 50 into one zoning district called “Meyers Community Center” to allow the mixing of land uses consistent with a bicycle and pedestrian friendly Town Center and the Regional Plan. The plan refines land uses and zoning, and permissible uses to resolve inconsistencies between TRPA and El Dorado County’s provisions and to reflect community input on desirable future uses. In addition, the plan maintains the maximum building height established in the existing
Community Plan at 42 feet for the mixed-use Town Center rather than allowing the 56 feet possible under the Regional Plan and retains the existing building height regulations in other plan areas. In addition, the plan waives El Dorado County development fees for eligible small businesses and projects providing certain environmental and transportation improvements and community amenities.

Several transportation measures are proposed in the plan. The plan encourages a series of capital improvements to improve bicycle and pedestrian access, safety, and traffic flow; and “park-once” and transit infrastructure. The plan revises design standards and guidelines to promote pedestrian improvements such as better access to existing class 1 multi-use trails, pedestrian kiosks, benches, and other streetscape features. The plan updates sign standards and adds new required design standards and guidelines promoting streetscape improvements and sustainable design.

The plan includes several new environmental protections. The plan authorizes the addition of an area-wide water quality treatment project, revises excess land coverage mitigation requirements to require that at least 5% of land coverage mitigation occurs through onsite removal, and proposes 485 acres of land for Conservation and Recreation Zoning designations (72% of the total plan area) to protect sensitive areas such as Tahoe Paradise Park, Lake Baron, and the Upper Truckee River corridor.

Lastly, this plan formalizes a locally-convened citizen advisory council referred to as the Meyers Advisory Council to serve as an advisory board to El Dorado County with responsibility for design review recommendations and suggestions related to plan maintenance or revisions.