| After waiting 5 hours, our three appeals were heard at 7 pm. We got out at 9pm. The last 15 years dealing with the Boulder Bay Community Enhancement project has sadly illustrated the flawed and reckless TRPA and Washoe County project approval process.The biggest north shore development since the Hyatt has circumvented TRPA by going directly to the County. The purpose of the TRPA is to consider regional Lake Tahoe environmental impacts, but now the developer is executing an end run. The County excluded us-NTPA and an Incline Village resident from appealing our concerns regarding lack of access, underestimated traffic impacts, and fire evacuation on the basis of “standing” because we weren’t within 500 feet of the project. Fires don’t stay within 500 feet. Will the thousands of dump truck loads go through Incline to Hwy 50. We don’t know, but probably.
This is a dangerous precedent that will be used against North Shore residents by Washoe County in the future. Think the Ponderosa Ranch/Duffield development. Our Representative, Alexis Hill initially said NTPA should have standing, but Doug Flaherty of Incline shouldn’t. Then she promptly voted with the other 3 commissioners that neither of us have “standing”. Beyond sad.
What did we get out of all this effort? The developer should work with Granite Place Condos to redesign the Wellness Way access–whatever that means. Construction grading should be limited to 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday—we were warned in that case the project will take longer to complete. The project should notice residents in advance of blocking access–vague to be sure. We agitated to get EKN to acknowledge the existing 2017 permit and finally at 9am yesterday they signed another document. EKN shouldn’t have been approved by Washoe County to immediately take Wassou Rd. and grade the site without the permit already in place.)
What did we lose? Wassou Rd west of Reservoir with no replacement road guarantee.
The big win was that previously we convinced TRPA to say in writing that EKN’s partial project description in the news and public meetings was NOT IN SUBSTANTIAL CONFORMANCE WITH THE APPROVED PROJECT and would require review. We need to hold TRPA to rigorous current environmental review.
No one is more motivated than the community to see a thoughtful rightsized redevelopment of the Tahoe Biltmore. For 17 years, we have put up with ongoing blight, piles of dirt, rusted junk and dilapidated buildings. To date, EKN has had no public meetings where the public’s questions were answered.
No project details have been shared with the neighbors, but it’s clear the project has changed. The grading site plan has changed, a new building added, different building sizes, locations and areas for underground parking. The scope has changed since a Tahoe Vista, Ca. lakefront and Northstar, Ca. restaurant and ski club are included. Yet, no revised project application has been submitted to either agency. EKN won’t elaborate because they don’t want to trigger a new environmental review by TRPA.
Two different site plans were included in the County mass grading permit application. EKN wants to move 200k+ CY of dirt and cut down every tree, take approx. 30+feet off a 7 acre site with no project details. It’s a 60% increase in material above the FEIS review, yet when asked TRPA made no comment to the County.
The only guarantee that we will ever have the replacement roads is the developer’s word. This is why we argued in 2009 that the County is motivated by money and shouldn’t be able to affect the Lake Tahoe region without TRPA’s initial review.
The North Tahoe community wants a safe and useable 4th exit for evacuation at all times. The approval of the Mass Grading SUP was premature and should have been heard by TRPA first. Make the developer submit a revised project application now. Enough agency rope-a-dope.
TRPA you are giving away the public trust. You risk becoming irrelevant, you should be concerned. |
