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Hello, I’m Emily Setzer, principal planner in Placer County’s Community Development Resource Agency in North Lake Tahoe. I’ve worked on housing for Placer County for the last eight years and am also an east Placer resident, so I’ve experienced the housing needs of our region and am deeply committed to the solutions in progress by the county and our regional partners.
May is Affordable Housing Month—a time to recognize that safe, stable and affordable housing is the foundation of a healthy, thriving community. As we roll into May, we’re taking inventory of the needs for our region and the proposed solutions. Few multifamily housing projects have been developed in recent decades while housing prices have risen drastically. New construction costs more than most of the local workforce can afford. To bring costs down, regulations need to be easier to navigate more quickly and subsidies often need to be included.
The Planning Division is focused on expediting the approvals process for housing projects. One thing we hear from developers is the need for more ease, speed and predictability, specifically related to approvals timelines and costs. To do that, the county has progressively worked with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to decrease barriers to development through a series of zoning and policy amendments. This work is often not as visible because it doesn’t entail new construction directly, but it is key to setting the groundwork to more easily incentivize and build housing.
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Tahoe Basin Area Plan Housing & Economic Sustainability Amendments
The most recent Tahoe Basin Area Plan amendments targeted at housing and economic sustainability were approved in February 2024. Now, if a project is "achievable housing" (under 120% of the area median income or at least one local worker in the household), the permitting process is simpler and faster, which can drastically shorten the approvals process for many multifamily housing projects, resulting in decreased project costs.
TRPA Living Working Group
The TRPA Tahoe Living Working Group was appointed in 2020 to identify and prioritize specific regional actions that leverage environmental improvements and achieve the region’s housing goals. The group (of which I serve as the vice-chair) has brought forward two rounds of code amendments focused on accessory dwelling units and multifamily development standards. The group is currently working on the “Cultivating Communities” third round aimed at modernizing the regional growth management system that directs the “how, what, and where” of new building and redevelopment in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
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Tahoe Basin Area Plan Phase 2 Amendments
As a result of the Living Working Group, the TRPA Governing Board approved a set of amendments to TRPA’s Code of Ordinances and the Regional Plan in 2023 designed to promote achievable housing within the Tahoe Basin. The TRPA incorporated and approved those amendments into the TBAP in March 2025 and Placer County is slated to approve them this fall.
Housing Action Plan
To form a strategic plan for housing countywide and across departments, staff are creating a Housing Action Plan, which will go to the Board of Supervisors for approval in June. The Housing Action Plan celebrates the county’s accomplishments and builds upon that foundation to further encourage development of more diverse housing types across the county.
Results
For the first time in decades, we're beginning to see interest from small-scale, private-sector multifamily developers in the Eastern Placer region. We hope to build on this momentum to realize new achievable housing throughout the region.
Come chat with me and the Placer Housing team at the Discover and Discuss event next Wednesday, April 30, to learn more about these initiatives and lots of other great work, too.
Thanks for reading.
Following a financial feasibility study discussion, the Placer County Board of Supervisors earlier this month approved staff to move forward with the design of a fully affordable housing development plan on a portion of the Dollar Creek Crossing site in North Lake Tahoe. The move shifts the project to at least 80 affordable units with a reserved area for potential future development. The county will move forward with a developer agreement to complete the planning, design and construction of the fully affordable project.
READ MORE
The Launchpad program, which is designed to support new construction of workforce housing as well as conversion projects, will open $1 million in funds for the first phase of the program. The program will provide incentives in return for deed restricting units for local workers. Applicants can submit between April 23 and May 14.
The initial funding will help staff understand interest in the program and develop a long-term funding strategy to support the program. Current funding incentives fall within three categories:
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Category 1 - $200,000 per unit for multifamily, condos, townhomes, non-residential and residential conversions, plus other housing projects deemed appropriate
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Category 2 - $125,000 per unit for accessory dwelling units
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Category 3 - $50,000 per unit for single room occupancy units
LEARN MORE
Placer County is inviting the public and regional stakeholders to our next Discover and Discuss community event, April 30 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center (8318 N. Lake Boulevard) in Kings Beach. Join county staff and community partners at this open-house style event to learn more and provide feedback about regional projects and programs.
- A housing solutions room is being added so that participants can discuss current efforts to address housing needs for the community.
- In the Timberline Room, you can talk to county staff and partners about critical infrastructure upgrades, including the Fanny Bridge Replacement Project, the Kings Beach Parking Management Program, the Placer 2050 General Plan update, emergency preparedness efforts and more.
- A FREE taco bar, childcare and Spanish interpretation will also be available.
WATCH OUR VIDEO TO LEARN MORE + JOIN US IN KINGS BEACH
Wondering what's next for Fanny Bridge? Curious about paving projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin? We've got you covered.
Listen to our latest community interview with Truckee Tahoe Radio featuring Seth Warren from our Department of Public Works team and Caltrans public information officer John O'Connell. Together, they share key updates happening in the region. LISTEN HERE
Placer County is moving forward with trailhead improvements this spring at the Lower Sawtooth parking lot at the popular entrance to U.S. Forest Service Road 06 in the Truckee area.
The project includes paving the existing dirt parking areas at the Lower Sawtooth trailhead, adding drainage and erosion control structures and adding roadside signs to mitigate traffic concerns. The project is a collaborative effort between the county and the U.S. Forest Service – Tahoe National Forest and is partially funded through the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program. READ MORE
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There's a new way to apply for TOT-TBID funding for projects and programs that are considered urgent and enhance community vitality, economic health and environmental sustainability in North Lake Tahoe.
The North Tahoe Community Alliance is launching the Emergent Grant Cycle, which will enable NTCA’s committees to award funds to projects and programs outside of the Annual Grant Cycle. Applications will be reviewed as they are received on a rolling basis by the NTCA staff, Placer County staff, and the chairs and vice-chairs of the TOT Advisory, TBID Advisory and Zone 1 committees.
Funding recommendations will typically be made within two to three months of submission. All TOT funded projects would be reviewed by the Placer County Board of Supervisors for approval. LEARN MORE
Seth Warren, engineering manager for the Placer County Department of Public Works Tahoe office, provided a presentation on the draft State Route 89 and SR 267 Corridor Strategic Implementation and Phasing plan to the Placer County Board of Supervisors earlier this month.
The primary recommendations include:
- Transit signal priority at intersections
- Transit queue jump lanes at intersections
- Reversible bus-only lane between intersections
- Bus/truck climbing lanes over Brockway Summit on state Route 267
WATCH THE PRESENTATION AND BOARD COMMENTS HERE
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Say hello to Dale! He's a bernadoodle and he lives for snow. This image was snapped by Kristin Iles of Placer County's Community Development Resource Agency.
- Placer County Planning Commission meeting, April 24
- Tahoe Center For Environmental Sciences' discussion: Freshwater on a Changing Planet with Dr. Stephanie Hampton, April 24
- TRPA's wilderness first aid course with NOLS Wilderness Medicine, April 26-27
- Tahoe Truckee Earth Day at Palisades Tahoe, April 26
- Placer County Board of Supervisors special meeting, April 29-30
- Discover & Discuss Community Event in Kings Beach, April 30
- Annual Cushing Crossing at Palisades Tahoe, May 3
- Placer County Planning Commission meeting, May 8
- Gatekeeper’s Museum garage sale, May 10
- Placer County Board of Supervisors meeting, May 13
Find more Placer County news unique to the Tahoe region on our dedicated North Lake Tahoe website by clicking here.
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