Opposition Growing to Martis Valley West Project

Lake Tahoe property owners and environmental groups are concerned over the Martis Valley West Parcel Project, a land swap that includes 112 acres in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  Following 8 years of collaboration with “a diverse group of stake holders” including East West Partners, landowner Sierra Pacific Industries and conservation groups Sierra Watch and Mountain Area Preservation, an agreement was reached and a proposal submitted to Placer County and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).  The proposal would exchange 6,376 acres of open space in Martis Valley for 775 acres of potential development including 112 acres in the Tahoe Basin.  While property owners and conservation groups support the acquisition of more open space, there is concern about the potential rezoning of land which is currently forested to residential and neighborhood commercial.

The North Tahoe Preservation Alliance hosted a public meeting on October 16th to discuss the proposal. Issues that were raised included the visual impacts caused by the development of 112 units on the ridgeline.  One mile of the ridgeline could be developed with luxury homes, lighting and other infrastructure.  A representative of the developer East West Partners believed that the project would largely be screened from view by the topography and the mature forest in the area.  In order to address concerns about increasing development in the Tahoe Basin, he reminded participants that for each unit in the proposed development, another “subpar” unit would be removed.

In addition to the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance’s Ann Nichols, other speakers on the panel included Derrek Aaron of Incline Village, Friends of the West Shore representative Jennifer Quashick,, Tahoe Vista resident Leah Kaufman and East West Partners Senior Partner Blake Riva.

This meeting and a spreading of information regarding this proposed development has resulted in a strong show of support for the organized groups opposing this development proposal.  A petition to the Placer County Board of Supervisors and the TRPA to Remove Tahoe Basin portion of Martis Valley West project is now circulating on the internet.

For more information and details about this plan click on the link the following links.

• 10-23-14 Sierra Sun article: “Concerns grow over proposed North Tahoe development.”
• Placer County: Martis Valley West Parcel Project

Proponents View

• Martis Valley West Parcel Facts

Opponents Views

• Martis Valley West project: Fact Check
• Friends of the West Shore: Martis Valley West Parcel Area Plan
• Save Tahoe Forests: Stop Martis Valley West
• Petitioning Placer County Board of Supervisors: Remove Tahoe Basin portion of Martis Valley West project