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HomeMy Public PortalAbout7.1 Public Comment - Kathy EcholsPublic Comment Form Upon clicking submit, your comment will be emailed to the relevant Council, Commission, or Committee Members and Town Department Heads and uploaded to the Town website for public view. Please note, it does take time to get your comment uploaded to public view. First Name Kathy E-mail Agency* Town Council Planning Commission Other Last Name Echols Phone Date of Meeting* 2023-03-21 To find the date for an upcoming meeting or to view the agenda click Agenda Item Number (9) here. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours before the meeting time. Public Comment (9) * March 17, 2023 RE: Truckee 2040 General Plan Update I Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) Dear Planning Commission and Town Council, 7.1 This letter serves as an update to my letter dated one month ago, Feb 17, 2023. Again, I want to acknowledge all the time and effort you all have put into the Truckee 2040 General Plan and the changes that have been made. It is still my opinion that the plan, as it is, will not protect our sensitive natural environment nor the quality of life and the character of our town. Please do not accept the plan as is, please analyze the effects of the plan to assure that it can be followed to make Truckee is the best it can be in the future. The fact that there are 300+ action items, speaks to the fact that changes need to be made in the General Plan itself, besides just a list of mitigation items that will be difficult to implement. But, if this is the path that is being taken, I have also included my priorities from the Action Item List. CEQA Requirements: The Self -Mitigating EIR is not adequate, it is a short-cut that will cause many problems. It defeats the purpose of an EIR. Truckee is a sensitive environmental area that needs our protection. Many of these action items are not well-defined or complete. Policies need to be clear and enforceable. There are not enough resources to implement the 300+ action items. Also, without a Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Plan there is no accountability. -Please include some type of accountability in the General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element The Plan does not do enough to protect open space areas, groundwater concerns, wildlife protections, or other sensitive environmental areas. Natural resources and wildlife habitats need to be categorized and mapped. Once the maps are developed, Truckee 2040 needs a definitive strategy outlining how the Town is going to protect these areas. Please prioritize: 1. Mapping of Open Space & Natural Resources (COS -1.C) 2. Management Plans for Truckee River and Donner Lake (COS -2.A) 3. Management and Protection of Sensitive Biological Resources (COS -3.A) 4. Monitoring of Sensitive Resources (COS -3.B) Land Use Element Housing for the workforce, seniors and disadvantaged community members needs to be prioritized. More second -home and vacation housing, even if it is condo/apartment style, will just exacerbate the local workforce problem -more visitors with no workforce to serve them. Similar to the new mixed -use and business innovation zones, the Town also needs to develop an overlay zone that identifies areas where these kinds of housing projects can be accommodated and provide real incentives to get these projects built. Truckee 2040 needs to be updated to prioritize the social fabric of our community. Please prioritize: 1. Transfer of Development Rights Program (LU-1.D) 2. Town of Truckee Density Bonus (LU-2.B) 3. Vacancy Tax Ballot measure (LU-12.E) Safety and Noise Please consider wildfire risk and evacuation in all aspects of the plan. Any decision needs to take in consideration of how it affects wildfire risk and evacuation. Please prioritize: 1. Emergency Planning (SN-6.D) 2. Community Wildfire Protection Plan (SN-6.C) 3. Funding to Support Wildfire Risk Reduction 9. SN-2.D) Climate Action Plan Element -The Climate Action Plan is very important, and it does not seem to be reflected in the General Plan. There are not enough enforceable policies to meet the greenhouse gas emission goal. Please prioritize: 1. Climate Action Plan Program Cost Benefit Analysis (CAP 11.G) 2. CAP Implementation and Progress Reports ( CAP -11.E) 3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (CAP -11.F) Mobility Element The past months have demonstrated that traffic is a major issue facing the Town. Please prioritize: 1. VMT Mitigation (M -1.B) 2. Town -wide VMT Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program (. M -1.G) 3. Short Range Transit Plan (M -3.A) 4. Transit Prioritization along SR 89 and SR 267 (M -8.D) Community Character Element Community Character is more than just the architectural style, it is planning a for a community that is authentic and local. Community Character needs to be considered in every aspect of the General Plan. The action items do not address all aspects of Community Character. Please prioritize: 1. Development Code Regulations for Scenic Resources (CC -1.A) 2. Scenic Corridor Standards (CC -1.B) 3. Modern Library Support (CC 6.E) -Truckee is a home to many of us, with a caring and cohesive community. Truckee 2040 needs to plan for a community that is authentic and local. Please continue to work to protect our environment and our way of life. Truckee is at a tipping point, and the community depends on you, our elected officials, to make Truckee a community for all of us. Thank you! Kathy Echols Upon clicking submit, your comment will be emailed to the relevant Council, Commission, or Committee Members and Town Department Heads and uploaded to the Town website for public view.