Placer County releases PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn draft environmental document for public review and comment

Published on September 28, 2016

A draft environmental impact report for the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn is now available for public review and comment in local libraries in Tahoe City and Truckee, Placer County’s Community Development and Resource Agency office in Tahoe City and the Placer County website.

The proposed project includes the demolition of existing on-site structures to build a new multilevel hotel, two residential condominium buildings and an underground parking garage. The project would include landscaping, bicycle and pedestrians paths connecting the proposed buildings and on-site recreational amenities. Water, sewer and drainage improvements would also be included to support the operation of the new facilities.

The project site is located at 1920 Squaw Valley Road in Olympic Valley and contains the existing PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn.

The DEIR public comment period is open for 45 days, until Nov. 4. The Placer County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center (8318 N. Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach) to receive public comment on the DEIR. After the close of the public comment period, staff will review the comments to the adequacy of the DEIR and prepare a final environmental impact report prior to any future hearing recommendation to the Planning Commission on the final project. The project does not require approval from the Placer County Board of Supervisors.

The California Environmental Quality Act requires the preparation of an environmental impact report when there is substantial evidence that a project could have a significant effect on the environment. The purpose of an EIR is to provide decision makers, public agencies and the general public with an objective and informational document that fully discloses the potential environmental effects of the proposed project.

The DEIR provides an analysis of the potential effects with respect to aesthetics; geology and soil; hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; noise; transportation and traffic; and utilities and service systems. Most adverse effects would be mitigable to less-than-significant levels.

The DEIR found that during winter the proposed project would create a significant and unavoidable increase in traffic at two intersections: at Squaw Valley Road, Far East Road and Christy Hill Road and at Squaw Valley Road and Village East Road.

The report is available for review during normal business hours at the Tahoe City Library (740 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City), the Truckee Library (10031 Levon Ave., Truckee), the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency offices in Tahoe City (775 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City) and in Auburn (3091 County Center Drive, Auburn). It’s also available online.

Comments may be sent to the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Environmental Coordination Services, 3091 County Center Drive, Suite 190, Auburn, CA 95603; faxed to 530-745-3080; at the Oct. 27 Planning Commission hearing, or by email. Comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 4.

For more information on the project, please contact the project planner, Steve Buelna, at 530-581-6285.