Keep Tahoe Blue – Stop Harmful Development

Environment, Petitions — By Scott Moller on February 10, 2012 11:55 am

Target: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Goal: To halt the development of a proposed condominium, hotel, and commercial-development project on the sparsely-populated west shore of the once-pristine Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the US, and is famed for its clarity and striking cerulean blue color that is the result of minimal algae contamination and limited overall pollution.  A recently approved project to build a 325-unit complex along its shores, however, threatens to negatively impact the quality of lake water, and fails to follow the guidelines set forth by the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact (TRPC), which was drawn-up to protect the lake against such irresponsible development.  Help put an end to this short-sighted and regulation-bending proposal so that Lake Tahoe can return to its pristine past.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is charged with protecting Lake Tahoe, but its recent acquiescence to the demands of the private developers seeking to build on the west shore has brought the integrity of the TRPA into question.  The compact that the TRPA is required to follow mandates that the agency “achieve and maintain certain environmental standards,” which attorney Wendy Park of Earthjustice stipulates to include “restoration  of former clarity levels”.  Park continues to say that the “TRPA has openly acknowledged that its current plan is incapable of achieving even the basic standard for water clarity in the Lake,” but has approved the plan nonetheless.

Help stop this destructive development on Lake Tahoe’s delicate coast by urging the TRPA to remain consistent with its duties as set forth by the planning compact.  As the governing body responsible for the well-being and preservation of Lake Tahoe, the TRPA must force potential developers to ensure that future projects do not jeopardize this spectacular national icon.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear TRPA,

The approved Homewood development on the west shore of Lake Tahoe threatens the quality of the lake, and your approval of the project goes against your mission of ensuring that lake quality standards do not decline.  Loosening your regulations on residential density, building height, and commercial development for the Homewood project further demonstrate that your priorities need to be reevaluated to value the health and longevity of the lake ahead of the demands of private developers.

While south Lake Tahoe has already been heavily developed, you are faced with a unique situation in which you can ensure that less-developed lake-side areas like the west shore are grown in a responsible, lake-friendly manner.  Furthermore, you have the opportunity to follow the demands of the federal-judge-upheld Compact that requires that any new development be consistent with the Compact’s central mission of restoring water clarity and health.

Please remain true to the guidelines that new development must not harm the lake.  While we have damaged the health and quality of Lake Tahoe for years, it is not too late to uphold your preservation mandate and implement responsible development.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]