Village at Palisades Tahoe passes hurdle as specific plan is approved by Placer County supervisors

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. - For over 13 years there has been a plan in the works to expand the resort that is now known as Palisades Tahoe, adding residences, some dormitory-style housing, new commercial, retail, entertainment, and year-round recreational land uses including improved trail system, and public and private recreation facilities.

Palisades owner, the Alterra Mountain Company, presented their updated plans to the Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday during an hours-long meeting that ended with the supervisors voting unanimously to approve the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan.

There were approximately 100 speakers who shared their thoughts on the project during the ten-hour meeting, including the League to Save Lake Tahoe and Sierra Watch.

“Once again, Placer County decision-makers have sided with the narrow interests of Alterra Mountain Company and against the values of the people who live, work, and play in Tahoe,” says Tom Mooers of Sierra Watch. “And, once again, we will continue our commitment to secure a better future for the region and keep Tahoe Truckee True.”

The League to Save Lake Tahoe’s Policy Director, Gavin Feiger, reiterated the environmental nonprofit’s decade-long opposition to the project, noting it would “do the opposite of Keep Tahoe Blue.”

“The science is clear, traffic – including thousands of new daily car trips that would flow from the massive development project into Tahoe – degrades the Lake’s unique environment and famously blue waters,” Feiger said.

The plan, which was downsized over time to incorporate community feedback, will result in 58 percent fewer bedrooms than allowed under the current zoning for the Village site, 1,493 vs. 3,554 respectively. It also restricts building heights and setbacks, more than doubles the acres of conservation preserve, and the majority of it will be built on existing parking lots and other disturbed land.

“We appreciate the Board’s decision, the extensive, comprehensive work of Placer County staff and their environmental consultants, and the involvement of the community in this process. We’re excited to move forward with the much-needed creation of in-valley workforce housing in the first phase, and for our community to start benefiting from the infrastructure and other improvements this plan will deliver,” said Amy Ohran, Palisades Tahoe president and COO.

There have been years of public comment about the project west of Lake Tahoe in the Olympic Valley. The Specific Plan covers 93.33 acres in the valley. The original project was approved by the supervisors in 2016 but has been litigated since then, and sent back to the resort for changes.

“Throughout this lengthy process, we have actively listened to and incorporated constructive community feedback into the plan," added Ohran. "It’s important that our community know that we’re not done listening; there will continue to be opportunities to share feedback as the next steps related to this plan get underway.”

"This evening, after a ten-hour public meeting and more than 100 public comments, the Placer County Board of Supervisors voted to approve the massive development plan for the Village at Palisades Tahoe," said the League to Save Lake Tahoe on social media. "The project will push thousands of new daily car trips into the Tahoe Basin – and the Lake-degrading pollution that comes with that traffic – without doing nearly enough to offset those impacts. In short, the project will do the opposite of Keep Tahoe Blue. The League is disappointed by this outcome, but we are grateful to our Tahoe supporters for writing and speaking to the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Lake. Our ten-year opposition to the project does not end here. We’re evaluating our next steps and looking at every tool in our toolbox to protect the Lake."

Alterra said the project will add over $8M in total annual tax revenues, provide over $1.5M in ongoing funding to support transit initiatives, $2M in voluntary contributions to the TRPA in-basin fee to reduce VMT (vehicle miles traveled), $1M would be annually generated by a new 2.5% lodging fee for VMT reduction and affordable housing.

Sierra Watch and the League to Save Lake Tahoe both said they are evaluating the next steps and their efforts to stop the project are not over.

“But this movement runs deep," said Mooers. 'And when it comes to our commitment to keep Tahoe Truckee True, we’re just getting started.”

For more on the project, visit:
https://www.placer.ca.gov/8213/Village-at-Palisades-Tahoe-Specific-Plan