In a decisive move to address the housing crisis around Lake Tahoe, the Placer County Board of Supervisors has unanimously passed amendments aimed at increasing workforce housing in the region. The recent approval of the Tahoe Basin Area Plan Phase 2 Housing Amendments paves the way for new, more affordable housing developments specifically tailored for local workers.
The county's move to enhance housing options follows a comprehensive review, ensuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. It was found that the proposed housing changes would not result in any new or substantially more severe environmental impacts than previously identified. The amendments will specifically target three designations: affordable, moderate, or achievable local workers' housing, offering more lenient guidelines on height, density, and parking.
Changes in the town centers of Kings Beach and Tahoe City, among other zoned areas, are notable. These include a raised building height limit to 65 feet from 56 feet; where properties exceed 56 feet, they must incorporate a step-back design. Not stopping there, the county has removed density limitations and parking minimums—although projects are still expected to cater to parking demand. Especially forward-thinking is the removal of coverage limits, contingent on the condition that runoff is treated by a regional stormwater system.
For projects outside the town centers, where multifamily housing is already a permissible venture, the changes are similarly growth-oriented. They're allowing greater roof pitch flexibility, removing density caps, and increasing coverage up to 70% if a regional stormwater system treats runoff. Parking restrictions have also been tightened, now capping at no more than 0.75 spaces per unit. According to Emily Setzer, Placer's Principal Planner, these amendments aim to make multifamily housing more financially feasible by modifying coverage, height, density, and parking norms.
The path to these amendments has been iterative. Initially amended in 2020 for housing and accessory dwelling unit updates, again in 2023 for housing and economic sustainability, the TBAP is the result of ongoing collaborative efforts. Diverse community groups provided input through the TRPA's Tahoe Living Working Group. This working group, made up of local stakeholders, charted out the amendments in three distinct phases. Their first and second phases have been approved, with the third, dubbed 'Cultivating Communities', expected to be reviewed next summer.
For those looking to delve deeper into the nitty-gritty of the Tahoe Basin Area Plan and these impactful amendments, further information can be found on the Placer County official website.
