HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment - Steve Batie
5/2/2023
Dear Members of the Truckee Town Council,
As development proceeds in Truckee during the coming years, the allowable height of new buildings
(together with architectural standards) will be among the most important aspects for assuring the
maintenance and enhancement of Truckee’s unique community character. If building heights are not
carefully controlled, the results could greatly diminish Truckee’s character, and once established, remain
all but irreversible. The massive proliferation really ugly, cheesy buildings in the Bay Area, Sacramento
and Reno provide regional examples of how this process can spin out of control.
In this regard, I propose the following:
Add a provision to the Downtown Plan that no building on Jibboom St. can exceed the elevation
of the contour of High St., less 10’.
Enable the Council to adjust allowable building height below or above the established maxima,
case by case, according to site and surrounding conditions.
Enable a streamlined option for applicants to request exceptions to building height limits.
Structure the development process such that Council reviews, and ultimately approves or
denies, all development of substantial impact.
If implemented, the features noted above can:
Reduce impact on the historic views to the south from the High St. area, and also protect the
views of the High St. area from Hilltop and other areas south of the river.
Enable the Council to apply context‐driven evaluations.
Possibly help property owners gain higher potential for the use of their property.
Help keep poor‐quality development from coming to pass.
I believe that a one‐size‐fits‐all standard for building heights does not adequately support the goals of
Truckee 2040, or the Downtown Plan.
Sincerely,
Steve Batie
Truckee Resident