Development Tentatively Approved in Squaw and Martis Valley

Village at Squaw Valley Redevelopment

Project Update – Aug. 11, 2016
The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan proposal was reviewed by the Placer County Planning Commission on Aug. 11, 2016. The Planning Commission voted 4 to 2 in favor of the Project and will pass that recommendation on to the Placer County Board of Supervisors. The Project is expected to go before the Placer County Board of Supervisors this fall.

Statement from Andy Wirth, president and CEO, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC:
We are sincerely appreciative of the community members, staff, and Placer County Planning Commission for their dedication throughout this process. Through our proposed redevelopment efforts, Squaw Valley Ski Holdings is prepared to significantly invest in the offering at Squaw Valley to position the resort as a true four-season destination, provide more year-round jobs, on-site affordable workforce housing, tens of millions of dollars in other benefits to our local community, and assist in stabilizing the North Lake Tahoe economy.

We are pleased with the affirmative recommendation by the Planning Commission, and look forward to the Project proceeding to a vote of the Board of Supervisors this fall.

Project Overview
The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan proposes redeveloping and completing the unfinished Village at Squaw Valley to reestablish the resort as a premier mountain resort destination and ensure it has a sustainable future. The project proposes that 90 percent of the redevelopment would happen on existing asphalt parking lots already zoned for development. If approved, it will provide new on-site lodging and recreation opportunities, create more year-round local jobs, offer on-site affordable workforce housing, rehabilitate Squaw Creek, and provide over $22 million in annual tax revenue to help fund public services including schools, road improvements, transit services and public safety. In response to community feedback, the Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment plan has been reduced by 50 percent and is now only 38 percent of what is allowable per the Squaw Valley General Plan and Land Use Ordinance.

Community Benefits of the Squaw Valley Redevelopment Project
•    Ensure that Squaw Valley and the North Lake Tahoe region can be competitive in a highly dynamic North American resort market
•    Quality and variety of on-site lodging at the base of Squaw Valley creates greater ability for guests to extend their stay and enjoy more of the businesses in the North Lake Tahoe community
•    Retain close-proximity day skier parking
•    Retain the Member’s Locker Room
•    9-acres of Squaw Creek restored and protected
•    500+ new year-round local jobs supporting tourism that isn’t seasonally dependent
•    New on-site workforce housing

Fiscal Benefits of the Squaw Valley Redevelopment Project
•    $22M in annual tax revenue generated by redevelopment in Squaw Valley will help fund public services including schools, road improvements, transit services and public safety
•    $20M toward transit initiatives
•    $150M in new infrastructure, including road, utility and Fire/EMS improvements, and more
•    $2M annually to Olympic Valley environmental initiatives
•    $6M dedicated to park and recreation planning, including improved hiking and biking trails in Squaw Valley
•    $2M annually to help fund Olympic Valley environmental initiatives
•    $2M dedicated to the restoration of Squaw Creek

The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan proposes redeveloping and completing the unfinished base area Village at Squaw Valley to reestablish the resort as a premier mountain resort destination and ensure it has a sustainable future. The project proposes that 90 percent of the redevelopment would happen on existing asphalt parking lots already zoned for development. If approved, it will provide new on-site lodging and recreation opportunities, create more year-round local jobs, offer on-site affordable workforce housing, rehabilitate Squaw Creek, and provide over $22 million in annual tax revenue to help fund public services including schools, road improvements, transit services and public safety. In response to community feedback, the Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment plan has been reduced by 50 percent and is now only 38 percent of what is allowable per the Squaw Valley General Plan and Land Use Ordinance.

Placer County Supervisors tentatively approve Martis Valley West Project

September 14, 2016

The Placer County Board of Supervisors today tentatively approved the resolution for the Martis Valley West Parcel Specific Plan and certification of the project environmental impact report. The board’s vote was 4 to 1 with District 5 Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery opposed. The hearing was continued to the October 11 board of supervisors meeting, when staff will provide updated findings, ordinances and resolutions for their consideration.

In a presentation to the board today county staff addressed concerns about efforts to limit or avoid impacts to traffic generated by the project, impacts of traffic and nitrates to Lake Tahoe, and concerns about the safe evacuation of the Lake Tahoe Basin and Martis Valley in an emergency.

The approved Martis Valley West project proposes to build 760 residences and 6.6 acres of neighborhood-serving commercial business near the existing Northstar Village development between Truckee and Lake Tahoe. In order to build at that location, the project proposes to give up the allowable density of 1,360 residences on a larger parcel across state Route 267 (known as the east parcel), and instead put that 6,376 acres of land under permanent open space conservation. Since the Martis Valley West Project only calls for 760 residences, it results in an overall reduction in density by 600 homes.

“In terms of the proposed public benefit, this is a project the likes of which we just don’t see,” said District 4 Supervisor Kirk Uhler.

“This is an opportunity to put nearly 6,500 acres into conservation,” said District 1 Supervisor Jack Duran. “To make a total of 50,000 contiguously conserved acres – you don’t see that kind of conservation very often.”

The developer modified its affordable housing proposal, agreeing to construct workforce housing on site and provide funding for additional regional workforce housing instead of paying an in lieu fee.

The project will provide $5,051,635 in recreational amenities and fees including the development of a public trail staging area at Brockway Summit, private recreational facilities to serve the residents of the Martis West development, and park fees of $1,362 per residential unit.

Other key elements of the project includes the developer contributing $68,000 annually to county regional transit, a $59,700 one-time payment for capital transit expenses and construction of a bus shelter to be located on site near Highway 267.

Additionally, the board approved county staff’s recommendation of the Planning Commission to amend the Martis Valley Community Plan to establish protocols for emergency events, such as fire, avalanche, seismic and flood protection measures.

In a separate, but related project, Sierra Pacific Industries and Mountainside Partners announced Sept. 7 their intention to sell a 120-acre parcel near North Lake Tahoe that was originally proposed for the development of the Brockway Campground. The project, independent from the Martis Valley West Project, was under review by Placer County and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Sierra Pacific Industries has opted to sell the land to the U.S. Forest Service, instead. Once completed, the land will become part of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the USFS and will be permanently protected from future development.

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