The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has announced the launch of “Tahoe Living: Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin,” a comprehensive, multi-year project aimed at addressing the housing crisis in the Lake Tahoe Basin while maintaining and improving environmental protections.
Public engagement will commence with community workshops on September 9 on South Shore and September 10 on North Shore. TRPA encourages participation through registration at TahoeLiving.org.
The initiative seeks to update regional environmental and growth management policies, focusing on disadvantaged communities to support equitable and sustainable housing for residents. TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan stated, “TRPA’s land use policies have succeeded in setting high standards for development and ensuring conservation and community revitalization happen together here in the Tahoe Basin. Some unintended consequences of that success are seriously impacting local workers who often struggle to find housing or are living in unacceptable conditions. This initiative will lead the basin forward with policies that protect our environment, improve community connections, and revitalize our communities.”
Recent years have seen new policies under TRPA’s Tahoe Living program that balance limited new development with environmental and community needs. The Cultivating Community initiative aims to address limitations of the existing development rights system, which has favored larger homes and resorts over smaller, affordable housing options.
“Revamping our development rights system is key to creating more affordable housing in the region,” said TRPA Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Executive Director John Hester. “Lake Tahoe has a long history of innovation and regional collaboration. We need to bring these strengths to bear on one of the most pressing issues facing mountain towns everywhere—how to cultivate community while continuing to protect the natural environment that we all want to share.”
The first community workshops will be held on September 9 at Bijou Community School Multipurpose Room in South Lake Tahoe at 6:30 p.m., and on September 10 at Kings Beach Elementary School Cafeteria in Kings Beach at 6 p.m. Spanish interpretation will be available at both workshops, along with activities for children and refreshments.
