Alterra Mountain Company says a lot about the wonders of its massive development proposal in Tahoe’s Olympic Valley. When, actually, the real world tells a very different story.

Alterra says “Community input has been a constant guiding force in developing and refining the plan.”

Actually community input has been clear and consistent—and overwhelmingly opposed to the project. For example, more than 2,600 people sent comment letters to Placer County in 2023; 99% were opposed.

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Alterra says the alternative to its massive, failed plan is “to simply leave our community frozen in time.”

Actually there are limited development alternatives, including specific compromise proposals put forth by Friends of Olympic Valley and by Sierra Watch. Alterra has ignored them all.

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Alterra says, in an email telling their employees to lobby on behalf of the project, that they should tell the Placer County Board of Supervisors, “future investments in the on-mountain infrastructure and experience will become less frequent as they depend on the VPTSP (their development) moving forward.”

Actually Alterra does not need to hold mountain improvements – nor creek restoration or even repaving the parking lot – hostage to their development proposal. They could do those things now.

Alterra says in the same email that, without its development, businesses in “North Lake Tahoe that depend on strong visitation to the resort will continue to struggle.”

Actually Alterra’s development and its 300,000 square feet of commercial space would draw customers – and employees – from existing local businesses. That’s why more than 60 local business owners signed on to a letter in declaring opposition to the project.

Alterra says their development includes investments “the entire region stands to benefit from to reduce congestion.”

Actually this contradicts their own research. And the County’s environmental analysis: Alterra’s new development would add more than 3,300 daily cars to existing congestion and make Tahoe traffic much, much worse.

Alterra says its proposed development “creates more lodging for overnight guests to stay in the Valley, reducing trips into and out of the Valley.”

Actually this is wishful thinking; Alterra’s own analysis predicts increases in traffic and gridlock. CalTrans is concerned about “overall increase in traffic volumes, particularly during seasonal operation of recreational facilities and special events”

Alterra says its plan is good for Lake Tahoe because it includes a “$2 million payment to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.”

Actually that attempt to buy their way out polluting Tahoe is a pittance. It wouldn’t even cover the cost of one bus during 25 years of project construction

Alterra says that its project and that payment “will reduce VMT in the Tahoe Basin.”

Actually VMT is short for Vehicle Miles Traveled; it’s a way to measure total traffic. Alterra’s project would add 23,842 VMT to the Tahoe Basin in a single day – more than ten times the amount a traffic that would be allowed by a project in the Basin.

Alterra says its development and the traffic it generates “will not have a significant impact on air or water quality in the Basin.”

Actually, according to the League to Save Lake Tahoe, “The traffic, tailpipe emissions, erosion, and strain on emergency response it creates will spill into neighboring communities and Tahoe’s North and West shores.” Alterra’s development would “do the opposite of Keep Tahoe Blue.”

Alterra says its project will “enhance the quality of life and safety for us all.”

Actually Alterra’s project is a direct threat to life and safety – that’s why they are asking for a “Resolution granting an exception to the State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations”

Alterra acknowledges the region’s “long-standing needs for workforce housing” and says its proposed development “will make tangible progress in the effort to provide more inventory, bringing new workforce housing units to the area in a respectful and reasonable way.”

Actually Alterra’s plan is deeply disrespectful of our mountain communities and the struggle for working families to find a place to live. According to the neighboring Town of Truckee, Alterra’s project would “exacerbate our collective transportation and housing challenges” and create a “shortfall of housing for 939 employees who would presumably seek housing outside of Olympic Valley and likely into a market with increasingly fewer options.”

Alterra says it will pay “$500,000 toward additional regional workforce housing initiatives.”

Actually we did the math and believe their offer won’t help 900 new employees find a place to live when the median price of a home in Tahoe City is $1,200,000.

Alterra says its project will “improve functionality, plant and fish habitat, and sediment loading and re-charge of the aquifer” so that we can all “see and enjoy a healthy Washeshu Creek.”

Actually, we believe their project would hem the creek in under highrise condos and, according to the Lahontan Water Board, its demand for 78,000,000 gallons of water annually would “dewater over 10 acres of wet meadow.”

Alterra says the “Olympic Valley Public Service District (PSD) determined that the groundwater basin has sufficient water supply for current and future users including the current Village plan.”

Actually the PSD calls out the “vulnerability of the community’s sole source of water supply” and “requests reevaluation” of the project’s 2015 Water Supply Assessment.

Alterra says that the sole purpose of its relentless effort cram their massive development into Olympic Valley is simply to score what they call “wallet capture.”

Actually that’s true.

The question then is what is more important: Alterra’s pursuit of “wallet capture” or what their development would actually mean to the rest of us?

Tom Mooers, Executive Director, Sierra Watch: Tom has been a leader in defending great places in California for more than twenty years. Before joining Sierra Watch as founding Executive Director in 2001, he worked for Greenbelt Alliance and the League to Save Lake Tahoe. He lives in Sierra City, California.