It has been just over a year since we filed the RPU lawsuit to protect Lake Tahoe. Along with our partner in the challenge, the Sierra Club, our organizations have since been subject to extensive political pressure and media campaigns, criticizing us for taking a stand to protect the Lake and our communities. Yet we've noticed lately that something is starting to change around the Lake. Members of our communities are stepping up and getting more involved - and seeing more clearly the potential results of the new Regional Plan. Although it may be easier to identify the RPU's changes in height and density and the increases in the Basin's population from the bigger developments, the 'mixed use' zoning that the RPU placed throughout the West Shore poses some real problems for our local communities, neighborhoods, and environment. It has been a long, busy 13 months since we filed our challenge, and FOWS would like to thank our members and communities for the support you've shown. We will continue to do our best to represent the interests of all who live, work, and play on Tahoe's West Shore, and throughout the entire Basin.

As we await our final court date (currently scheduled for March 26, although subject to change again), TRPA and other agencies have continued to move forward with their plans, which include preparing Area Plans, discussing a change in the transfer requirements to allow more coverage transfers from areas far across the Lake, to revise how residential home allocations are awarded to each local government, and to start the process to update Shorezone Ordinances (which will need to carefully consider the fast-deteriorating nearshore conditions). The RPU's significant changes in zoning and allowed development also continue to move forward, now reflected through local planning processes for Area Plans. Stay tuned...

Homewood Mountain Resort:    

As noted in our Alert last month, we have some news for you. After years of effort and your continued support, we have reached a settlement with JMA Ventures, the developer for the Homewood Mountain Resort expansion project, for a modified project which will reduce the impacts of the resort's expansion.  

  

Some of the highlights of our efforts include the following project modifications:

Image from previous HMR Village Simulation

• A total reduction of 13 new units compared to the larger project approved in 2011 (including 7 units on the gravel parking lot aka the "Fawn Parcel")
• Restoration of sensitive areas of the Fawn Parcel to a naturally-functioning stream environment zone
• The retirement of an additional 44,000 square feet of coverage, in addition to the 178,000 sq. ft. of coverage already required, benefiting water quality and the health of our forest soils
• At least 20 years of extensive traffic monitoring after the first Phase of the project is constructed
• Agreements which will reduce the extent of future development allowed both at the base and on the mountain, and which protect the natural areas on the mountain from more intensive and polluting recreational uses into the future.

FOWS graciously thanks the hard work of countless community members and volunteers who supported our efforts to protect our community and environment. We encourage you to read the press release for more information, and we will keep you updated as we proceed with our efforts to monitor and participate in the resort's construction and implementation.