A controversial development plan goes to the Truckee Planning Commission Monday. Reno Public Radio's Amy Westervelt has more.
Canyon Springs, a 203-home development, has been on the books in Truckee for close to 30 years now, but is moving closer to reality than it’s ever been. The development’s final environmental impact report – or EIR -- will be presented to the Truckee Planning Commission during an unprecedented two-day hearing.
“If you start to dig a little deeper and look at how this consultant responded to people’s comments, and the agencies, everyone has been blown off," says Nicky Riley, with the nonprofit Mountain Area Preservation. "It’s a matter of either your comment has been noted but determined to be a less-than-significant impact or your comment will be forwarded to the decision-making body for further analysis.”
Local environmental groups, as well as California Department of Fish and Wildlife researchers, say part of the problem is that Canyon Springs would sit in the middle of an important deer corridor. They also worry that, if approved, it would open the door to sprawl.
In a statement to Reno Public Radio, Canyon Springs developer Christopher “Chip” Huck says the development does not fit the definition of sprawl and that any future development in the area would require additional approval.
Right next door, a 4,000-acre tract of land that sits outside Truckee’s limits, in unincorporated Nevada County, has a land-use designation for 275 homes and 10 acres of commercial development.
*Correction: An earlier version of this story listed Brian Olson as the developer for Canyon Springs. The current developer is Christopher "Chip" Huck. We regret the error. *