CRYSTAL BAY, Nev. — The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has released a long-awaited environmental study for a controversial proposed development project on Lake Tahoe's North Shore.
The document, obtained Thursday morning by the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, details the effects Boulder Bay, a proposed resort in Crystal Bay on the Tahoe Biltmore and former Tahoe Mariner sites, could have on its surrounding environment, including air quality, water quality, traffic, noise and more.
The release of the document sets off a 60-day public comment period during which people can log their thoughts with TRPA's staff and governing board. Public comment period from Nov. 6 to Jan. 5, 2010.
“This is an important decision, and we are looking forward to a robust productive discussion,” said TRPA Spokesman Dennis Oliver.
There will be three public hearings to discuss the project: Nov. 18 at the Chateau in Incline Village before the TPRA Governing Board; Dec. 16 at TRPA's Stateline offices before the TRPA Governing Board; and Dec. 9 at TRPA's Stateline offices before the Advisory Planning Commission. Times for each of these meetings will be announced at a later date.
TRPA will also host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Tahoe Biltmore for the public. The purpose of this meeting is to inform people how to give comment about the project, Oliver said.
“With this workshop we are very interested in engaging people who perhaps have not been involved in the process to date,” Oliver said.
Boulder Bay has garnered heated debate from proponents and opponents since its introduction to the community in July 2007 as part of TRPA's Community Enhancement Program. The CEP is a program created by the TRPA to develop environmental, social and economic benefits through mixed-use development in urban core areas that are underdeveloped or disturbed.
The release of the EIS is something the North Tahoe Preservation Alliance has awaited for months; President Ann Nichols said there is not enough time to review the document before the first hearing.
“It's disappointing that it is going to be heard in front of the governing board on the 18th,” she said. “How can you make any intelligent assumption about anything in that period of time?”