League challenges City of South Lake Tahoe general plan Suit aims to prevent environmental degradation of Lake Tahoe Published on Jun 20, 2011 - 10:33:03 AM
June 20, 2011 - The League to Save Lake Tahoe filed a complaint on Friday challenging the City of South Lake Tahoe's general plan, which poses significant environmental harm to Lake Tahoe, including increases in air and water pollution.
The city's general plan violates the TRPA's current regional plan and proposes illegal increases in development height, density, coverage, commercial space, and hotel rooms. These all affect the scenic quality and environmental health of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The city's plan includes over 1,000 new high-density residences and over 100 acres of six-story buildings. The plan will increase vehicle traffic and associated air and water pollution. The plan proposes to increase airport use and its associated noise, air and water pollution.
"Lake Tahoe holds far more potential as a destination that boasts stunning natural resources and abundant low-impact outdoor recreation opportunities, rather than as a den of empty condos," said Rochelle Nason, League executive director.
"We need plans that reduce traffic and boost restoration efforts," Nason said. "The urbanization proposed by the city will not only diminish the region's draw as a serene and beautiful place for residents and visitors, it also violates regional, state and federal environmental laws. The sensible solution would be for the city to wait until the TRPA adopts a new regional plan."
The city's environmental review failed to address the degradation arising out of its plan, or suggest adequate mitigation for these impacts.
"In its environmental impact report prepared for the General Plan Update, the City admits that the GPU conflicts with many key elements of the TRPA Regional Plan, including threshold standards established limiting impervious land coverage, emissions of ozone precursors, building height restrictions and limits on vehicle miles travelled," the League's complaint says.
The city's general plan is based on one of the alternatives outlined in the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's conceptual new regional plan, which has not even entered the environmental review process. It's unclear when a new regional plan will be adopted, and what it will contain.
"From a planning perspective, the city is putting the cart before the horse, because it is prematurely trying to adopt a new general plan before there is a new regional plan," Nason said. "This is a clear violation of the TRPA code of ordinances."
The League has worked tirelessly to ensure the TRPA adopts a new regional plan that protects Tahoe's environment. Last year, in concert with several conservation and community organizations, the League drafted hundreds of policy suggestions for the regional plan update. Rather than focusing on incentivizing growth, the League's preferred plan reins in urbanization at Tahoe and builds a foundation for sustainability by focusing on four main concepts: restoration, regulation, redevelopment and renovation.
By submitting a comment you consent to our rules. Please use your real first and last name, not a nickname or alias. Thank you.
