Letter: Commission didn’t listen regarding Squaw
To the community,
Sadly, Placer County Planning Commission approved the huge KSL Squaw Valley project last Thursday by a 4-2 vote. Local Larry Sevison voted to approve.
Not one change was made to the behemoth project — 1,400-plus bedrooms, numerous 96-foot buildings, 18 homes at the base of the Shirley Lake trail, and a 96-foot building containing a water park.
The commissioner that made the motion didn’t make a peep the entire 10-hour hearing … he just made the motion to approve, ignoring scores of environmental impacts. Placer County’s attorney claimed the county could ignore California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ letter requesting a new environmental analysis due to traffic, greenhouse gas and impacts to Lake Tahoe. It was a shameful display.
We were told KSL offered to pay employees to attend and offered them more if they spoke. Teresa Duggan organized the KSL circus.
Next will be the Board of Supervisors. Write Jennifer Montgomery — jmontgomery@placer.ca.gov — and tell her to deny Squaw Valley and Martis Valley West. Our area is at gridlock during high season now; add Squaw Valley, Martis Valley West, Highlands 2, Joerger Ranch, The Railyard, Brockway Campground, Homewood, Boulder Bay, Coldstream … it goes on and on. Our area will be ruined.
By the way, the water park will offer indoor skydiving … really?
Ann Nichols, North Tahoe Preservation Alliance
The commission listened but they did not want to hear from a bunch of people who have their little slice and don’t want anyone else to have theirs. If the resorts in the region don’t keep up with new amenities then you will have tourist choosing to spend their dollars elsewhere.
It’s a different world, there are now 38 million people living in California. It’s a far cry from 30-40 years ago. Twenty five percent growth in twenty years. Change is inevitable better get used to it.
Yep…’they will build build build and then ‘they’ will move on when the MASSESS don’t show up leaving the little people with the mess as usual.
Hunker down you lttle people, be calm and carry on.
The Planning Commission has failed to recognize that the Lake Tahoe region is reaching a tipping point on overdevelopment. The Lake Tahoe region has been a State and National treasure. It is a shame to ruin it for future generations by approving development that destroys the natural areas and leads to gridlock. Let our children climb mountains and swim in lakes rather than attend indoor mountain adventure centers!