Realtor boards oppose Tahoe ridgeline development
By Associated Press
Two leading Realtor boards have come out against future ridgeline development in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The Incline Village Board of Realtors and the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors have adopted a joint policy to protect ridgelines from “obtrusive man-modified structures or features.”
Tracy Saunders, president of the Incline Village board, said the groups want to ensure ridgeline protection is addressed by governmental agencies in all future projects.
While a controversial proposal to build 112 luxury homes in a 112-acre gated community on a ridge overlooking Tahoe brought the matter to the forefront, the policy is not directed at any one project, the boards’ representatives said.
“To date, the board has found it imprudent to become entangled in the fine-grained specifics of a given project proposal,” said John Falk of the Tahoe Sierra board based in Truckee. “Our overarching objective is to shape goals, policies, programs, codes and procedures for the betterment of the community.”
The Martis Valley West Project would have been on forested land now used for backcountry recreation and access to the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Sacramento Bee reported. Instead, its developers agreed in January to cluster all the project’s development within the Martis Valley near Truckee.
Options for the Tahoe property on a Brockway Summit ridge are being analyzed, but no application has been submitted, said Blake Riva, senior partner with project developer Mountainside Partners.
Asked what he thinks of the Realtor boards’ new policy, Riva said, “We are aware of certain organizations making their viewpoints known. We will be following land-use policy as set forth by the governmental agencies. It’s part of the public review process.”
Be nice if there is a policy of focusing on buildings that use zero outside energy (other than a clean wood stove as the fuel is readily available and near), and actually provide more electricity into the grid (that they are paid for), than what electricity they draw. Supposedly around half the energy in this country is used for buildings, doesn’t need to be so dirty. I’m guessing most of the electricity for Martis is coming from coal fired sources.
Thank goodness these 2 Realtor boards have ‘seen the forest for the trees’. We have to keep the future in mind in all our current plans and implimintations. Kudos to them for voicing their opinion.
Lol! I doubt it’s anything altruistic that caused the boards to come out against the development. Fewer allowed buildings keeps property values up through scarcity. Bigger commissions.
Lol
If this is private property and home building was allowed when purchased then the owners should be allowed to develop it. Of course you realtors can buy the property at fair market value and give it to the State of California and deed it undevelopable.
This is private property and currently zoned Conservation/Forest lands which includes both the Tahoe Basin lands and the Martis Valley property. The Tahoe Basin land has a Plan Area Statement that allows camping. The development team is seeking to change the zoning for both the Martis Valley and Tahoe basin. The Tahoe basin land is targeted to potentially allow luxury homes on a ridgeline overlooking Lake Tahoe. The shared boundary line is also to be revisited for a possible adjustment. Public hearings will be forthcoming.