Stateline, NV – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced the schedule of presentations for the Regional Plan Update rollout taking place at two upcoming Governing Board meetings on April 25 and 26.

The plan update contains five draft documents for the public, partner agencies and decision makers to review at a minimum for the next two months. Public discussions about the Update will continue through the year, with the Board expected to take final action on the plan by the end of 2012. Documents being released Wednesday include the following:

Draft Regional Plan Update and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Draft Regional Transportation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
Draft Code of Ordinances
2011 Draft Threshold Evaluation Report

The Threshold Evaluation Report is data that offers a snapshot of the environmental health of the Tahoe Region and is compiled by the Agency every 5 years.

Priorities for the Regional Plan Update are to accelerate water quality restoration and other ecological benefits by targeting environmental redevelopment opportunities, focus TRPA’s resources more regionally with integrated local area planning and to simplify and streamline the permit review process.

The schedule for the two-day Governing Board meetings is as follows:

Wednesday, April 25, at The Chateau in Incline Village beginning at 9:00 a.m. (note early start time).

Draft 2011 Threshold Evaluation Report – Informational Only
Overview of Regional Plan Update Draft Goals and Polices and Draft Code of Ordinances – Informational Only
Overview of Draft Mobility 2035 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy – Informational Only
Clarifying Questions

Thursday, April 26, at the TRPA Board Rooms in Stateline beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Regional Plan Update Draft EIS – Informational Only
Mobility 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Draft EIR/EIS – Informational Only
Clarifying Questions/Public Comment (Public comment is anticipated to begin after lunch)
Board action on closing date for Draft EIS Comment Period, Public Comment and Decision

Last on the order of events, the Board will have an open discussion on the length of time for public comment on the draft environmental impact statements for the Regional Plan Update and Regional Transportation Plan. The discussion will center on whether the comment period should be 60, 75, or 90 days, and how each choice will impact the final Regional Plan Update delivery schedule.

To help the public engage on the draft Regional Plan Update release, the documents and brief fact sheets on policy changes will be posted to www.trpa.org the day of the meeting and hard copies will be distributed to local libraries and the TRPA office. TRPA staff will also have USB thumb drives available for purchase at the Governing Board meetings that will include all the draft RPU/RTP documents as well as the draft 2011 Threshold Evaluation Report and the fact sheets about the draft plan. To recover the cost of providing these, the price will be $15 (cash or check made out to TRPA) per thumb drive.

Live audio of the presentations and hearing will be streamed online at www.trpa.org for those unable to attend. TRPA staff will also post brief updates of the meeting proceedings on Twitter as they happen. The public can follow the updates at www.twitter.com/TahoeAgency.

“We recognize the amount of information is significant and we appreciate the public’s engagement in this important planning process,” said TRPA’s Executive Director, Joanne S. Marchetta.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency cooperatively leads the effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region now and in the future. For additional information, call Kristi Boosman at (775) 589-5230 or send an email to kboosman@trpa.org .