Tahoe-Truckee development: Martis Valley West final EIR coming soon
mmoran@sierrasun.com

Courtesy image |
More online
Visit bit.ly/1JJcOVC, mvwpfacts.com and savetahoeforests.com to learn more about the Martis Valley West Parcel project, including arguments for and against.
Visit bit.ly/1U7sORL and brockwaycampground.com to learn more about the Brockway Campground proposal.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — The final environmental document for the Martis Valley West Parcel is expected to be released by the end of this month, county officials said.
The project proposes 760 residential units in Martis Valley, west of Highway 267 and outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Its final Environmental Impact Report will include responses to the roughly 150 comments — many of which were critical of the Mountainside Partners-backed project and/or its analysis — received on the draft report.
Once the final EIR is released for a minimum 10-day public review period, a hearing will occur before the Placer County Planning Commission, which will provide a project recommendation.
The Placer County Board of Supervisors will then make the final ruling, likely sometime this summer, said Paul Thompson, assistant director for the county’s Community Development Resource Agency, at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting in Olympic Valley.
Martis Valley West proposes shifting a development designation from a large parcel east of Highway 267 to the west for the conservation of 6,376 acres and to allow for construction of residential units on property currently zoned for timberland production.
WHAT ABOUT BROCKWAY CAMPGROUND?
This project’s environmental review process is separate from Brockway Campground, also proposed by Mountainside Partners.
That project outlines up to 550 campsites with amenities on a portion of an 104-acre parcel next to the Martis Valley West parcel, near Brockway Summit, within the Tahoe basin above Kings Beach.
“While the applicant is primarily focused on the Martis Valley West Specific Plan project, the review of the Brockway Campground is proceeding, as well,” Thompson said. “It’s currently focused on collaboration with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the (environmental) consultant and Placer County staff on gathering documents necessary to commence the environmental review process.”
A joint Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement will eventually be prepared for the project, according to a previous report.
Initial concerns raised by the public and conservation groups regarding the campground proposal include public safety in the event of a disaster; degradation of Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity; and traffic congestion — which would be worsened by the possible influx of additional cars associated with the adjacent Martis Valley West project.
Support Local Journalism


Support Local Journalism
Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.