PO Box 5310 Stateline, NV 89449
august 2006
south lake tahoe partnership
vision summary Vision from 2027
South Lake Tahoe Partnership Communities: A 2027 Story
Purpose and Process
South Lake Tahoe has become national story–successful
Values and Opportunities
because communities and public agencies made a concerted effort to invite investment that improved the region’s competitive position and image. Hwy 50 has been transformed into an interconnected series of com-
Guiding Principles
pact mixed-use districts served by transit and connected to adjacent neighborhoods. Meyers, Zephyr Cove and the Kahle neighborhoods strengthen their communities while contributing to the vibrancy of the South Shore economy.
Key Planning Concepts
South Shore’s Communities: A Story from 2027 Overall Planning Themes: • Invest in South Lake Tahoe Basin gateways and commercial areas to create popular (mixeduse) gathering places that are efficiently served by transit; • Improve mobility for residents, visitors and employees; • Create a variety of mixeduse and mixed income housing; and • Continue to improve South Shore’s natural places and environments.
South Lake Tahoe has become a national story in 2027–successful because communities and public agencies made a concerted effort to invite investment that improved the region’s competitive position and image. Hwy 50 has been transformed into an interconnected series of compact mixed-use districts served by transit and connected to adjacent neighborhoods. Three things have made this transformation possible. The local economy has diversified increasing the quality and variety of employment, new housing now more closely meets the needs of all the communities, and new public and private investment has improved water quality, reduced air pollution and created more social opportunities. All these changes attract more year-round residents.
2027–There is a vibrant and vital local and regional economy. Our community character, unique surroundings and diverse recreational opportunities are important to our success.
At the center of the South Shore’s renaissance has been a strong and growing economy. It has given the communities the capacity to support social and environmental objectives and maintain a high quality of life. The transformation of Hwy 50’s commercial strip character has been fueled by the cooperative efforts of local government, TRPA and private investors who shared the vision for a prosperous and healthy region.
2027–New investment has reinvigorated the economy and supports the restoration of watersheds, meadows and forests.
The Upper Truckee River watershed is a priority project whereby the channeled portions are replaced by a restored natural stream. Improved access to the area for bird watching and walking contributes to its popularity. Mending the natural interface with the forest and Lake Tahoe has been a component of every public improvement and private development project over the last 20 years. A significant reduction of surface parking in the Basin has also improved water quality and made it possible to reintroduce trees into areas that were cleared for suburban auto-oriented developments.
2027–New housing developments have enhanced the feasibility of transit while improving corridors, centers, and neighborhoods. Housing types and styles are suitable for a variety of family needs and incomes. 2 | place-based
New housing is helping diversify and stabilize the economy by supporting the needs of local businesses and their employees. Housing is an integral part of the revitalization of the Hwy 50 corridor where mixed-use and mixed income developments are contributing to the creation of lively gathering places, a sense of community and the identity of neighborhoods.
2027–-Meyers is a welcoming mixed-use community at the southwestern entrance to Lake Tahoe. Arriving visitors refresh themselves in eateries and stroll to Meyers’ shops.
Echo Summit still takes your breath away. It marks the entrance to the South Shore communities where the natural setting, views, and vistas are the predominant features. Mixed-use places along the highway provide both the economic and social focus for visitors and nearby residential neighborhoods. Meyers’ families have a new town center and improved access to the Basin’s rich recreational assets.
2027–Hwy 50 has been redesigned as a mixed-mode lifeline for South Shore communities. The completed bike trails, new transit centers and parking management program now provide visitors with a vacation experience without the hassle of traffic jams.
New investment in the southern part of the Tahoe Basin has improved pedestrian, bike and transit access. Hwy 50 has been reinvented as a mixed-mode transportation corridor connecting transit facilities that function as gateways and popular gathering places. The South Shore Trolley has become the most convenient way to move between transit and activity centers and between home and the work place. A popular family activity for visitors is riding the Sawmill Bikeway loop from Meyers to Stateline and taking water-borne or land-based transit to one of the State Parks. Moving about in the Tahoe Basin has become part of the recreational experience for visitors. The basin-wide transportation system brings local residents closer to each other. It is now easy to ride to Homewood for a jazz concert, or invite friends over from Glenbrook. This was made possible by diversifying transportation choices, developing intercept parking areas in and outside the Tahoe Basin, creating parking management programs at a regional and local scale, and more effective cooperation between Lake Tahoe’s public and private transit providers.
2027–Rebirth of the Y as a mixed-use sub-regional center has improved adjacent neighborhoods, introduced housing, and changed the perception and image of the City of South Lake Tahoe. Continued investment in Heavenly’s recreational and commercial areas has added to the magnetism of South Shore as a visitor destination. The Y is not the only area that improved. The Sierra Tract commercial area has mixed-use frontage, the 56-acre Project consolidated civic uses and increased access to recreation at Lake Tahoe via a new transit center, the Bijou Center is an important community-gathering place on the Lake, the Stateline Convention Center complex is a success, and the Kahle Neighborhood thrives around the Community Center and the related transit station.
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Vision from 2027
Purpose and Process Values and Opportuni-ties Guiding Principles
Key Planning Concepts
Purpose and Process South Lake Tahoe Partnership Planning Working Group Members Ari Makinen tina@laketahoeadventures.com Barbara Childs bc@barbarachilds.com Carol Daum designscapes@webtv.net Daryl Schue snowschue@aol.com Dave Carneggie dcarneggie@aol.com Deb Howard deb@realtordeb.com Del LaFountain dellafountain@sbcglobal.net Gail Jaquish jaquish@jurix.com Gary Midkiff gary@midkiffandassoc.com Gina Hunter ghunter@co.el-dorado.ca.us Glen Smith glentsmith@juno.co Heather Bovat hbovat@co.douglas.nv.us Jim Beattie jcbt@etahoe.com John Hitchcock jhitchcock@trpa.org Joy Curry jjcmail@aol.com Katey Fagan mohicanslt@sbcglobal.net Karen Fink kfink@trpa.org Maria Luquin mluquin@ltusd.org Mike Bradford mikeb@lakesideinn.com Mort Miers Nathan Rouse nathan@tahoesnow.com Sue Novasel novasel@aol.com Teri Jamin tjamin@ci.south-lake-tahoe.ca.us Alternates: Ed Smith Kathleen Fagan
Purpose of Vision Summary The South Lake Tahoe Partnership Vision Summary is an overview of Principles and Concepts framing a desired direction for El Dorado County, South Lake Tahoe and Douglas County Basin communities over the next 20 years. The Vision Summary is the end result of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Pathway 2007 Placed-Based Planning Process engaging local community members in the development of the next 20 year plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Planning Process
Three community workshops have taken place in the South Shore as part of the Pathway 2007 Place-Based planning effort. The first workshop on March 30, 2006 at the Lake Tahoe Community College invited participants to identify Opportunities for Investing in a sustainable Tahoe Basin. The second community workshop held on May 25, 2006 at Harvey’s Resort and Casino focused on exploring Alternative Futures for South Shore Partnership’s Basin communities. The third workshop was held on July 19, 2006 and focused on Implementation. A preliminary set of Principles and Concepts were derived from this workshop were discussed and subsequently refined with local representatives on the South Lake Tahoe Partnership Place-Based Working Group (PWG). The Place-Based Planning Process has explored what community members value about the Tahoe Basin and what futures they desire. Workshop participants acknowledged the need for a vibrant economy, perverting catastrophic fire, improving water quality and protecting the scenic excellence and natural beauty of the Tahoe Basin which is shared by visitors and residents. Through this process, a comprehensive set of preliminary Principles and Concepts has emerged, based on information collected at the workshops and input from local representatives (PWG). The preliminary principles were discussed and refined in meetings with the PWG and have become the basis for South Lake Tahoe Partnership Vision Summary.
Ex-officio Norma Santiago norma.santiago@edcgov.us
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ABOVE: Over 250 people attended the first two South Shore workshops . Their participation with the guidance of the representative Planning Working Group has been the basis for the principles and concepts.
Local Planning and Place-Based Planning The County Planning Departments and the Planning Department of the City of South Lake Tahoe are charged with both the long range and current local planning. The City of South Lake Tahoe Redevelopment Agency was adopted in 1988 to reduce and eliminate blight and implement local redevelopment objectives. The Principles and Concepts developed in the Place-Based Planning process will help to shape future South Lake Tahoe Partnership investment based on overall community goals.
Future Community Plan Updates
TRPA and the South Lake Tahoe Partners have seven adopted Community Plans: Meyers Community Plan; South Y Industrial Community Plan; Bijou–Al Tahoe Community Plan; Stateline–Ski Run Community Plan; Nevada Stateline Community Plan; Kingsbury Community Plan; and Round Hill Community Plan. The Tahoe Valley (South Y) Community Plan is in progress. Coordinated with the combined efforts of El Dorado County, Douglas County, the City of South Lake Tahoe and TRPA and other interested parties, these plans will be updated over the next two years to reflect new regional planning policies and development codes.
Next Steps: Updating Regional Plans and Policies
Purpose and Process
The Vision Summary will contribute to establishing an overall regional planning framework for the Tahoe Basin. The planning principles and concepts have been included in an interactive workshop with the Forum, an advisory committee representing local, state and national interests in the Basin. They will make recommendations to the Pathway 2007 partners (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, US Forest Service, Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board) in the coordination of updating their plans and policies. (Find out more about Pathway 2007 at http://www.pathway2007.org)
Values and Opportuni-ties
The Place-Based process will continue to represent the values, vision and interests of local communities in the regional planning process.
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Vision from 2027
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Guiding Principles
Key Planning Concepts
Values and Opportunities Did you know that … …at 39,000 souls, the permanent population of south shore communities represents 64 % of the Tahoe Basin’s year ‘round population. (U.S. Census of 2000)
On March 30, 2006 over 160 people participated in the first of three community workshops in South Lake Tahoe as part of the PlaceBased Planning Process of the TRPA’s Pathway 2007 Regional Plan update. The workshop was held at Lake Tahoe Community College and provided an opportunity for participants to identify valued places in their communities and locations that represent Opportunities for New Investment, Reinvestment and Restoration.
…there are 10,000 hotel/ motel rooms plus additional 1,500 rental condominiums available to visitors of South Shore communities. (Chamber of Commerce)
Lake Tahoe, beaches, and mountains were identified as valued environments. Workshop participants also said natural places were important such as the Truckee River, Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake and Echo Summit. Other significant places included Heavenly Valley, Lake Tahoe Community College, the casinos and shopping.
…at full occupancy, south shore visitor accommodations hold over 20,000 guests. This represents over half of South Shore communities’ combined permanent population. (RPP) …the length of SR 50 as it passes through South Lake Tahoe between Meyers and State line is just over 10 miles. The four-lane road carries over 50,000 vehicles on an average day. (RPP & TRPA)
Valued Places: The Environments Around the Lake
Areas of Opportunity: The Y, Hwy 50 and Upper Truckee Watershed
Participants identified the Y and Hwy 50 as important opportunity areas for new investment and reinvestment. In terms of restoration, the Upper Truckee River watershed was identified as an area of opportunity. Other areas presented as restoration opportunities included the airport and Meyers Landfill. Participants were divided on the future of the airport, citing the South Shore’s community interests in keeping the airport versus the environmental benefits of restoration.
Greatest Opportunity: Improving the Image, Economy, Environment and Mobility of South Lake
Participants emphasized the multiple benefits of investing in the Y area and significantly upgrading the Hwy 50 corridor through South Lake Tahoe. In addition to economic benefits, these two “project areas” would promise improved image, a variety of mixed-use and mixed-income housing, better pedestrian facilities, including sidewalks and a welcome transit service. Restoration of the Upper Truckee watershed and other areas would create a healthier forest, improve water quality, and would enhance nearby recreation and hiking opportunities. Participants pointed out that a healthier lake and forest would also create economic benefits for the region.
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Opportunities
Vision from 2027
Purpose and Process Values and Opportunities
ABOVE: At the first community workshop, participants identified opportunities for investing in the South Shore. They identified places (Hwy 50 frontage–The Y, Meyers, Stateline), environmental opportunities (watersheds, forests, and Lake), and community-wide opportunities (workforce housing, transit, stronger economy).
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Guiding Principles
Key Planning Concepts
Guiding Principles At the June 21, 2006 meeting, the South Shore Partnership Planning Working Group prepared concepts for the southern part of the Tahoe Basin that identified the most desirable changes in the next 20 years. The Working Group identified eight organizing principles emphasizing the importance of a healthy economy, the natural setting, housing, gathering places, community facilities, gateways, mixed-use and transit, and new and enhanced places. Principle 1: Vibrant and Vital Local and Regional Economy Community planning acknowledges the essential and vital role of the economy and promotes our unique role in the Basin.
Principle 2: Restoring Natural Setting Investment should contribute to the restoration of Lake Tahoe watersheds, meadows and forests. Planning and Design Features:
Planning and Design Features: • A revitalization strategy for the Hwy 50 corridor should be prepared and implemented as a coordinated effort by local, state and regional agencies. • Incentives and bonuses should be provided for investment that furthers the goals of diversifying the economy, nurturing local businesses, and creating needed housing while protecting and improving the environment. • Our economy should be based on our unique community character, natural surroundings and diverse recreational experiences. • New employment should provide “livable wages”.
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• Investment in the Upper Truckee River Watershed should improve water clarity, provide recreational opportunities, and support restoration of natural habitat. • If the opportunity presents itself, investing in restoration of natural places (i.e., meadows near Meeks Lumber and Meyers Landfill) should be pursued.
Principle 3: Housing Needs Provide a variety of housing choices in South Shore’s communities that strengthen neighborhoods, contribute to the local economy and support local business.
Planning and Design Features: • Housing should be developed that matches the varied needs of South Shore employers, employees and residents. • A wide spectrum of housing types should be developed that creates choices and increases purchasing power that benefits local businesses. • Housing should be planned and designed to strengthen existing and future neighborhoods and create opportunities for home ownership.
Principle 4: Public Gathering Places Planning concepts should result in places for gathering in South Shore communities. There should be an emphasis on creating active centers that provide social and economic focal points with mixed-use development and housing, civic uses and facilities, and well-managed commercial services. Planning and Design Features:
• All individual development projects should contribute to creating “a sense of place” – as part of a gateway, a central district, or a neighborhood. • Housing should be conceived and function as an integral part of mixed-use places. • Social and cultural uses, such as community centers, libraries, schools and places of worship, should be part of mixed-use complexes, in order to create inviting public gathering places. • Open spaces should be organized focal points in new developments, defined by buildings and connected to the surrounding pedes-
trian networks. • Gathering places should be animated by compatible commercial establishments.
Principle 5: Community Facilities Construction of new community centers and other types of public facilities should be planned and designed as social activity centers. Our local schools should be strengthened. Planning and Design Features: • Existing schools should be strengthened so their programs and facilities are an integral part of neighborhoods and communities. • Public facilities should be located and designed to support gathering places and to improve existing neighborhoods. • Access to community facilities with public transportation should be provided. • Community facilities should include yearround affordable family recreation.
Vision from 2027
Principle 6: Gateways Gateway concepts should enhance the economic vitality and image of the Basin’s southern and eastern entries. This includes enhancements to the travel experience along Hwy 50 through protection of scenic view corridors (views of the Lake and mountains), highway design (rounda-bouts, sidewalks), and private investment (consolidated retail nodes).
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Purpose and Process Values and Opportuni-ties Guiding Principles
Key Planning Concepts
Planning and Design Features: • Tahoe Basin’s southern and eastern entries should be deliberately planned in a way that welcomes visitors to the Lake Tahoe experience. Planning should consider land uses and urban design solutions at a gateway district scale. • Planning should improve the “curb appeal” of commercial and visitor-serving facilities at gateways and along the entire length of Hwy 50 as it passes through the Tahoe Basin. • Scenic vantage points and vistas at gateways should be featured in the southern part of the Basin. • Planning for public rights-of-way should enhance the image of South Lake Tahoe’s gateways while increasing transportation capacity, adding sidewalks and improving water quality. • Commercial services should be consolidated at thoughtfully conceived focal points and gateways. • Natural gateways should be preserved and enhanced (i.e., Kingsbury Grade, Echo Summit and Spooner Grade). • Agencies should partner to create visitor centers and public facilities.
Principle 7: Mixed-mode Transportation Centers and Corridors Investment in the southern part of the Tahoe Basin should improve auto, pedestrian, bike and transit circulation throughout the community. Hwy 50 should be transformed into a significant transportation corridor that connects multi-modal transit facilities which function as mixed-use gateways, service centers and gathering places. Planning and Design Features: • Continued investment in transit should result in safe,
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• • •
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•
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comfortable, efficient and affordable services and facilities. All new public and private investment should connect to existing and future pedestrian and bicycle facilities. New transportation investment should be designed and planned to improve water quality. Transit stops should be featured at Tahoe Airport, gateways and service hubs in the South Lake Tahoe communities. The Hwy 50 and Kingsbury Grade rights-of-way should be designed to support peak (seasonal) access needs and make pedestrians safer and more comfortable. Workforce housing should be built within walking distance of multi-modal transit facilities (i.e., transit centers, bus stops, bike trails and sidewalks). Roadway investments should result in improved transit flow.
Principle 8: New and Enhanced Places Planning for the future should anticipate enhanced commercial gateway areas as gathering places and create potential for new public places. Wherever possible, the new places should provide public access to Lake Tahoe. Planning and Design Features: • Investment in Meyers’ commercial area should support its evolution toward a social and economic center for the community and into an enhanced gateway to the basin. • Meyers should be connected to South Shore’s mixedmode transportation solution. • A new “Bijou Center” should provide public access to Lake Tahoe and be a center for civic and cultural activities. • Redevelopment in Stateline / Douglas County communities should connect community resources, visitor facilities, recreation and Lake Tahoe.
Key Planning Concepts Planning concepts for South Shore’s communities stress investing in Hwy 50’s existing commercial and hotel areas and creating new opportunities for building community-gathering places. This can be accomplished if public and private investment contributes to the success of communities and Lake Tahoe’s natural places. Concept 1: Restoring South Shore’s Natural Places New investment would contribute to the restoration of Tahoe’s watersheds, meadows and forests.
Concept 2: New and Enhanced Places Land use concepts identify a new role for existing places by adding new uses, improving their accessibility and/or changing their form.
Upper Truckee River Watershed • Efforts to restore the Upper Truckee River Watershed would improve lake clarity, provide recreational opportunities, and support restoration of natural habitat. • If an opportunity presents itself, investing in restoration of other natural places (i.e., meadows near Meeks Lumber) would be pursued. • New transportation and roadway investments adjacent to riparian corridors would be designed and planned to improve water quality.
Meyers • Meyers’ commercial area would be reinvented as a social and economic center for the community as well as an enhanced gateway to the basin.
Other Opportunities for Restoration • If an opportunity presents itself, investing in restoration of Meyers Landfill would be pursued. • Managed consolidation of parking areas would provide an opportunity to restore portions of the woodlands.
The Y • The Y would be transformed into a contemporary commercial service district served by a transit center. • New housing would be located with and and adjacent to commercial uses. Bijou Center • A new “Bijou Center” would provide public access to Lake Tahoe and be a center for commercial, civic and cultural activities. Stateline • Future phases of redevelopment in place-based |
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Vision from 2027
Purpose and Process Values and Opportuni-ties Guiding Principles
Key Planning Concepts
Triple Bottom Line Benefits from achieving Principles and Concepts: Social Investing along Hwy 50 and The Y promises two important social benefits: increasing the opportunity for face-to-face social interaction in the community and providing housing affordable to South Shore residents.
Environmental Major environmental benefits include improved air quality facilitated by reduced automobile traffic; improved water quality achieved through new investment in Hwy 50 and the Y; and more environmentally friendly buildings.
Economic Economic benefits include improved commercial vitality through comprehensive planning and a more competitive visitor destination, new employment opportunities and improved living conditions with new workforce housing.
Stateline / Douglas County communities would create a pedestrian center served by transit that connects community resources, visitor facilities, recreation and Lake Tahoe.
Concept 3: Healthy Economy New investment and economic growth would increase the capacity of South Shore’s communities to improve infrastructure, community facilities and the health of the Lake and forest. Planning and Design Features: • The variety of employment choices and higher wages for South Shore residents would increase the percentage of year-round residents and improve the quality of life for families. • Incentives and bonuses would be provided for investments that diversify the economy, provide needed community facilities, create needed housing, and improve the environment. • Investment would build upon the unique character and aspirations of each community and their natural surroundings and diverse recreational experiences.
Concept 4: The Design of Gateways Enhance the economic vitality and image of the Tahoe Basin’s southern and eastern entries. Improvements to the travel experience along Hwy 50 12 | place-based
through protection of scenic corridors (views of Lake Tahoe and mountains), highway design (roundabouts, sidewalks), and private investment (consolidated retail nodes). Natural Gateways • Scenic vantage points and vistas at gateways into the southern part of the Tahoe Basin would be protected. • Natural gateways (i.e., Kingsbury Grade, Echo Summit, and Spooner Grade) would be preserved and enhanced. Meyers’ Center • The current auto-oriented pattern in Meyers’ commercial area between SR89 and Pioneer Trail would be reconfigured as a village center. • A transit facility with bike, bus and trail connections would be planned as part of the regional transportation system and as an economic development opportunity for Meyers. • The SR89 intersection would maintain its rural character. The “Y” • Existing auto-oriented commercial uses would be redeveloped and consolidated into managed street-oriented mixed-use developments. • The SR89 and Hwy 50 approaches to the Y would include distinctive gateways consisting of strategic grouping of land uses, site planning, roadways design and signage that announce entrance to the South Shore communities.
Concepts
Vision from 2027
Land Use
Purpose and Process Values and Opportunities Guiding Principles
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Key Planning Concepts
• Where appropriate, maintaining the existing trees and providing opportunities for reforesting in the Y area would be included in investment planning. • Highway rights-of-way would be enhanced to increase transportation capacity, adding sidewalks and improving water quality. Kingsbury Grade • Commercial investment in the SR207 and Hwy 50 intersection area would increase landscaping, move parking out of sight and reflect a more distinctive regional architecture. • The gateway from Douglas County’s historic towns of Genoa, Minden and Gardnerville would be featured as part of the region. • Hwy 50 from the Nevada State Capital and Carson City would present a clear gateway to South Shore in the Kahle Drive area of lower Kingsbury.
Concept 5: Mixed-mode Corridors, Centers and Gathering Places Places for gathering in South Lake Tahoe’s communities would be created by comprehensively investing in the Hwy 50 corridor. Creating active centers would provide social and economic focal points that include mixed-use development with housing, civic uses and facilities and better-managed commercial activities.
Mixed-use Activities • Each project would contribute to creating “a sense of place” – as part of a gateway, central district, or neighborhood activated by compatible commercial land uses. • Open spaces would be focal points in new developments, defined by buildings and connected to surrounding pedestrian networks. • Social and cultural uses, such as community centers, libraries, schools and places of worship, would be part of a mixed-use approach to creating gathering places.
Variety of Housing • A variety of housing types would function as integral parts of mixed-use places. • Housing would be part of master planned projects that consider the relationship to existing neighborhoods, transit and pedestrian facilities. • The restoration or investment in existing housing would be approached in the context of planning for mixed-use districts. Mobility and Transit • Transit centers would be located in Meyers, The Y, 56Acre Project and Kahle Community Center. The transit centers would connect regional buses, trolleys, local shuttles, bike trails and pedestrian facilities (year-round sidewalks, bus shelters and lighting). • Seasonal transit service for recreation destinations would connect to transit centers in Sugar Pine Point and Emerald Bay. • Seasonal water transit would be accommodated at Bijou Center, Emerald Bay, and Sugar Pine Point Recreation Area. • Bike trails along the CalTrans right-of-way between Meyers and Stateline, Sawmill Bike Path between Meyers and The Y, and bike facilities between Emerald Bay and Sugar Pine recreation areas would be completed. • The Hwy 50 and Kingsbury Grade rights-of-ways would be designed to support peak (seasonal) access needs and make pedestrians safer and more comfortable. Future Community Facilities • Schools and libraries would be planned so their locations, programs and facility improvements would integrate them into the surrounding community. • Public facilities would be located and designed to support the creation of gathering places and to improve existing neighborhoods. • Private non-profit clubs, places of worship, and publically accessible commercial meeting/event places would be planned as part of the community.
Pathway 2007 • Place-Based Visioning • www.regionalplanningpartners.com 14 | place-based