KINGS BEACH, Calif. — While proponents of a project that would rezone land in Martis Valley for development and conservation purposes are backing its environmental analysis, residents and conservation groups are criticizing it, saying additional study is needed.

“One of the major problems with this draft Environmental Impact Report is it is not including the Brockway Campground,” said Isaac Silverman, staff attorney for environmental group Sierra Watch. “What we have are two projects proposed by the same developer on continuous landholdings owned by the same person. Common sense, CEQA (and) good planning requires an approach that considers the full impacts of these two projects together.

“That’s the only way that we can truly ensure responsible planning for Lake Tahoe, for Martis Valley, (and) really for the whole Tahoe/Truckee region.”

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Silverman was one of 10 people who spoke at last Thursday’s public hearing in Kings Beach on the draft EIR for the Martis Valley West Parcel Project before the Placer County Planning Commission.

“The Lake Tahoe Basin and impacts to it were completely ignored with this environmental review.”Shannon EckmeyerLeague to Save Lake Tahoe

Released in late October and prepared by Ascent Environmental, the draft report found there would be significant and unavoidable impacts with the project related to cumulative night lighting, transportation and circulation, and greenhouse gas emissions.

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The Brockway Campground, meanwhile, is a separate project proposal that outlines up to 550 campsites and various amenities on a 104-acre parcel near Brockway Summit inside the Tahoe Basin — and adjacent to the Martis Valley proposal, which is outside the basin.

“A part of the development area of the Martis Valley West Parcel Project was within the Tahoe Basin,” said Kurt Krieg, with Mountainside Partners, the project developer. “We had received numerous feedback from agencies and organizations to step out of the basin. The Tahoe Basin component has been eliminated. All development and project lands are 100 percent outside of the Tahoe Basin. The possible future of Brockway Campground … is not a part of Martis Valley West Parcel Project; however, it is included in the cumulative analysis.”

Recirculation of the draft EIR?

Despite Krieg’s comment, those who spoke at the public hearing raised cumulative impact concerns including traffic levels on Highway 267, greenhouse gas emissions and public safety in the event of a large-scale evacuation.

“We disagree that the analysis included a cumulative impact analysis,” said Shannon Eckmeyer, with the League to Save Lake Tahoe. “… The Lake Tahoe Basin and impacts to it were completely ignored with this environmental review, and … there are significant and unavoidable impacts as they relate to traffic, air quality and visual, which will undoubtedly also impact the Lake Tahoe Basin. … The League will be specifically requesting that a new draft document be recirculated with the cumulative impacts associated with Brockway and impacts to the Lake Tahoe Basin.”

Laurel Ames, of the Tahoe Area Sierra Club; Jennifer Quashnick, of Friends of the West Shore; and Ann Nichols, president of the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, also requested a new draft EIR be recirculated.

“Pursuant to CEQA, the draft EIR identifies all significant impacts of the Martis Valley West Specific Plan,” Krieg said. “The draft EIR represents a thorough, science-based evaluation of the project by Placer County and Ascent. The draft EIR includes a full analysis of cumulative impacts and alternatives.”

Whit Manley, an environmental attorney with Remy Moose Manley who is a lawyer for Mountainside Partners, added: “My perspective is I want the documents to be a very thorough analysis, and I believe Ascent has done that.”

How to comment

Last week’s hearing before the Placer County Planning Commission was informational, and no decisions or votes were made regarding the project.

The deadline for public comment on the draft EIR is 5 p.m. Dec. 22.

Comments should be mailed to Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Environmental Coordination Services, 3091 County Center Drive, Suite 190, Auburn, CA 95603; faxed to 530-745-3080; or emailed to cdraecs@placer.ca.gov.

Hard copies are available during normal business hours at the Kings Beach Library (301 Secline St.), Tahoe City Library (740 North Lake Blvd.), Truckee Library (10031 Levon Ave.), Placer County Community Development Resource Agency (775 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City), and in Auburn (3091 County Center Drive).

Visit bit.ly/1jMDg56 to view an electronic copy of the draft EIR. Additional project information is available at mvwpfacts.com.