A federal judge has blocked the expansion of Lake Tahoe’s modest Homewood Resort, saying that regional planning agencies failed to consider a smaller development before approving the proposal. Ruling on a suit brought by residents and environmental groups, Judge William Shubb said that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency would have to reconsider whether a reduced—and therefore more environmentally friendly—expansion would be financially viable. The ruling requires that Homewood investors evaluate a plan that would add a maximum of 284 housing units, as opposed to the proposed 336.
Both sides claimed it as a partial victory. “This decision is yet another reminder that the agencies entrusted with protecting beautiful Lake Tahoe, which has already suffered so much from runaway development, must not continue to allow private gain at the Lake’s expense,” . An attorney for the developers said they would work with the Tahoe planning board to come into compliance.
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