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County contracts Ascent Environmental to resume Tahoe‑Douglas Area Plan work; public outreach planned
Summary
Douglas County approved a contract up to $149,735 with Ascent Environmental to continue Phase 2 of the Tahoe‑Douglas Area Plan, reviving an earlier 2014 draft and updating it to reflect current conditions and TRPA requirements.
Douglas County commissioners on June 26 approved a professional services contract with Ascent Environmental not to exceed $149,735 to advance Phase 2 of the Tahoe‑Douglas Area Plan (TDAP), a planning effort covering the portion of Douglas County inside the Tahoe Township but outside the South Shore Area Plan.
Principal Planner Kate O’Neil summarized progress to date: an early draft of the TDAP existed and was taken to county hearings in 2014 but was not forwarded to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) for approval at that time. Since then, regulations and baseline conditions have changed, and the county must update existing plan‑area statements and the environmental checklist before seeking TRPA review.
Ascent’s initial Phase‑1 work analyzed current conditions; the Phase‑2 contract continues that work, revises policy language, consolidates and replaces roughly 29 plan‑area statements and the Round Hill Community Plan within the plan area, and prepares environmental review materials. O’Neil said staff plans two rounds of public engagement: an initial fall meeting to present an administrative vision and solicit public input, and a later meeting tied to the draft environmental checklist and planning documents once Ascent and county staff have prepared a screen‑check draft.
The county manager’s office said the community‑relations team will run a multi‑channel outreach campaign (press release, social media and established local newsletters) and that staff would coordinate with TRPA to ensure consistent messaging. O’Neil said the county aims to consult widely in Tahoe Township and will present the contract for Ascent at the recommended level.
Commissioner Wes Rice moved approval; Commissioner David Tolbert seconded. The board approved the contract unanimously.
Why this matters: The TDAP will replace multiple small plan‑area statements with a single, consolidated area plan aligned with current TRPA policy and county goals. That consolidation can streamline permitting and land‑use guidance across large parts of the county’s Tahoe jurisdiction.
Next steps: Ascent will complete updated conditions analysis and prepare a draft plan and environmental checklist; staff will schedule public meetings in the Tahoe Township area in coming months and will coordinate outreach with TRPA and county communications.
Speakers quoted: Kate O’Neil (Principal Planner). Commissioners participating included Charla Hales, Wes Rice and David Tolbert.
Ending note: County staff said outreach will include social media, press releases and coordination with local newsletters and Tahoe agencies; formal adoption will require additional public hearings and TRPA review.
