Time to change the TRPA

From Ann Nichols, North Tahoe Preservation Alliance….

An ominous new battlefront is looming over Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Basin is
over 90% developed. Unable to grow horizontally, the focus is now on
growing vertically. It is already underway. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is leading the
assault. When you attend TRPA meetings and workshops, the buzzwords are “new
urbanism”, “increased density”, “compact development” and “transect zoning”.
It is already happening with the controversial Community Enhancement Program
(CEP) projects. Even though they are among the largest development programs
ever proposed for Lake Tahoe, they are considered pilot or trial programs.

Ironically the TRPA was created to control urbanization. Decades ago the
original Regional Planning Compact stated the basic problem as: “increasing
urbanization is threatening the ecological values of the region”. Yet much
of the TRPA’s efforts and budget today are focused on increasing
urbanization.

TRPA has monetized the system so that money can become more important than
common sense. Is money the solution or the problem? TRPA has enabled and
promoted the commoditization of Lake Tahoe through constructs like land
coverage and Tourist Accommodation Units (TAU’s). These are now things to
be bought, sold and transferred in the ceaseless pursuit of profit.
Protecting Lake Tahoe has become a big, complicated business and yet lake
clarity continues to decline.

One thing is becoming clearer. The amount of money required to fix Lake
Tahoe is skyrocketing. The capital investment required to meet various
environmental thresholds is now estimated by TRPA to be $2.5 billion. TRPA
plans to pay for this by shifting a bigger portion of the bill to
developers. They expect private funding will increase by promoting private
large-scale development. Changes to current restrictions on height and
density are required to accommodate this urbanization. This is a strategy
of fixing one problem by creating another.

People are the main cause of pollution and the environmental problems at
Lake Tahoe. The TRPA’s plan to urbanize the area is dangerous. TRPA has a
choice. It can require tougher standards without enabling or requiring
greater basin population. Yes some redevelopment may not happen, and
existing developments may ultimately become economically unfeasible, but
good developers will find a way to make it happen. Encouraging population
growth is the wrong approach for Lake Tahoe.

At the bottom of all this is a huge concern that the process for making
these choices appears flawed. The decision makers and principle influencers
have too much of a monetary stake in the outcomes. As examples, the TRPA
budget relies on development fees - perhaps increasingly so with pending
public budget cuts. They have a stake in more development. Environmental
Impact Studies are prepared for TRPA by consultants who are paid by
developers. They have a stake in more development. Ultimately some form of
the Golden Rule creeps in. He who has the gold makes the rules.

This is a critical moment for the future of Lake Tahoe. If the TRPA’s plans
are enacted, it will be practically impossible to undo them. Furthermore
there is no process for public appeal other than litigation. It is time for
the public to have a real say. That means more than two minutes of public
comment at an occasional TRPA meeting. Ultimately the public and its
elected officials are the real source of the means to fix Tahoe’s problems.

Recent decisions by TRPA have created the equivalent of a development arms
race. The more development is promoted by the TRPA, the more for-profit
development is brought to her shores. In light of the Public’s increasing
environmental awareness and sustainability concerns, as well as the
consistent degradation of Lake Tahoe’s water quality (a bi-state watershed),
it is our position that current TRPA policies need to be re-evaluated and
re-aligned with its original charter.

While we are not opposed to reasonable development consistent with the
character of surrounding neighborhoods and existing roadways, we believe
that a moratorium on larger-scale “urbanized” development should be enacted
until a new Regional Plan can be updated. Since the TRPA itself has stated
its intent to update its Regional Plan, this would seem the most responsible
and logical approach to setting consistent and harmonious development
guidelines for the long-term preservation and benefit of Lake Tahoe. To
attempt to approve rushed, piece-meal large-scale development without
addressing the synergistic and irreversible consequences of such
development, is clearly not in the long term best interests of preserving
the future of Lake Tahoe.

Learn to use a compass, map and both

If you’re one of those people who love the outdoors but have never bothered to learn how to use a compass and a map together, the Reno REI is offering a class that might be for you. The class will be offered twice, once this Wednesday, June 3, and again on July 8. Topics include a discussion of the need for a compass and map in the age of GPS, how to use a compass, how to navigate with a map, and how to use the two together. The classes will be at 6:30 pm at REI, 2225 Harvard Way, Reno. Registration is free but the classes are limited to 20 people. Compasses will be provided. Details: 775-828-9090

Bike-friendly states

California ranked 14th and Nevada 25th in the latest “bicycle friendly state” rankings by the League of American Bicyclists. Washington was first.

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