Palisades at Squaw project draft environmental document available for public review

Published on September 23, 2016

A draft environmental impact report for the Palisades at Squaw residential housing project in Squaw Valley 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.

Currently zoned for high-density residential development, the proposed undeveloped 19.9-acre project site could include a planned residential project for up to 63 residential lots consisting of 33 lots for single-family homes and 30 lots for half-plex units, a 100-foot-wide open space easement along the site’s northeastern boundary, a private park, a multipurpose trail easement and right-of-way for utilities and roadways.

The project site is located in the community of Olympic Valley, west of state Route 89 and north of Squaw Valley Road along both the east and west sides of Creeks End Court.

The public comment period for the DEIR report 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 as a whole. 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 EIR provides an analysis of the potential environmental effects such as biological resources; cultural resources; geology and soils; hazards and hazardous materials; hydrology and water quality; population and housing; and transportation and traffic with the implementation of the proposed project.

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 addressed to the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Environmental Coordination Services, 3091 County Center Drive, Suite 190, Auburn, CA 95603; by fax to 530-745-3080; at the October 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, Allen Breuch, at 530-581-6284.