The Douglas County Board

of County Commissioners

Board Buzz

Welcome to our recap of the latest Douglas County Board of County Commissioners meeting! It's always a busy time as we work to make our county a great place to live, work, and play and there’s a lot to cover this week. So, let's dive into the highlights from our May 2 meeting and see what's been happening around Douglas County!

May 2, 2024 "Hot Topics" Administrative Agenda Items

These items received the most attention and feedback via

public comment.

Item 1

Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month

The Board of County Commissioners is fired up to declare May 2024 as "Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month" in Douglas County. Wildfire has a significant impact on the county’s environmental, economic, and social well-being. Let's spread the word and work together to plan, prepare, and take action against wildfire! Presentation Held

Item 2

Shining a Light on Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness

Tahoe Douglas Assistant Fire Chief Bryce Cranch and Tahoe Douglas Public Information Officer/Fire Prevention Specialist Michelle Turner are teaming up to proclaim May through October 2024 as "Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Months." Time to amp up the fire safety talks because fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility! Presentation Held

Item 3

Getting Real about Tahoe Tourism - For Presentation Only

The Board received a presentation from the Tahoe Fund on the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan. Various organizations in the region have come together to create a shared destination stewardship plan that will balance the needs of the environment, businesses, visitors, and local communities. Click here to learn more about their plan. Presentation Held

Item 6

Virginia Ranch Zoning Map Amendment

Commissioners discussed adoption of Ordinance 2024-1636 changing the zoning of a property located south of Toler Lane and east of Muller Parkway, within the Virginia Ranch Specific Plan in the Gardnerville Community Plan. The applicant requested the zoning of the subject property change to single-family residential, 8,000 square foot minimum lot size, multi-family residential, 24,000 square foot minimum lot size, public facilities and neighborhood commercial with a planned development overlay. The board also considered adoption of three associated Tentative Subdivision Maps which would create 471 single family residential parcels, and 132 multi-family detached residential units at this location. Second Reading. Ordinance Adopted

The Virginia Ranch Specific Plan was initially approved by the Board of County Commissioners on December 2, 2004. The 2004 approval and a subsequent 2009 settlement agreement allowed for the development of no more than 1,020 dwelling units of various housing types and density, park space, and commercial development. A previous tentative map expired for this project. The Developer will be responsible for constructing four lanes of muller parkway from the Virginia Ditch to Stodick Parkway as a condition of approval. For more information regarding this item please see the complete board packet for the May 2, 2024 board meeting here.

Item 7

Justice Center Zoning Map Amendment - Second Reading

Commissioners discussed the adoption of Ordinance 2024-1637, an ordinance approving a Zoning Map Amendment for the site of the proposed Douglas County Justice Center, a 57-acre parcel located at 1280 Buckeye Road, changing the zoning designation from agricultural, 19-acre minimum lot size to public facilities. Click here for updates regarding the status of the Justice Center project. Second Reading. Ordinance Adopted

Item 8

323 Tramway Drive Land Division Application

Commissioners discussed a Land Division application DP24-0005, for a parcel located at 323 Tramway Drive. The applicant requested to amend an existing Subdivision Map (AM 96-01) to reduce the number of parcels (units) from 49 to 43, in the MFR (Multi-family residential) Zoning District in the Sierra Planning Area, outside of the Tahoe Regional Planning Area (TRPA). Approved

The 323 Tramway Project commenced in 1996, when the former owners received a special use permit and variance, which approved a 49-unit timeshare condominium project and a variance to allow the height to exceed the maximum permitted height requirement from 35 feet to 42 feet. Around that same time the owners also recorded an amended subdivision map. Construction commenced but then stopped after the foundation was constructed. The unfinished structure has been an eyesore for many of the residents that live in Tahoe Village since that time. For more information regarding this item please see the complete board packet for the May 2, 2024 board meeting here.

MORE ITEMS

Other items not listed above included: Appointment of Kirby Mays to the Audit Committee (Item 4) and Tim Gardner to the Airport Advisory Committee (Item 5), as well as commissioner announcements and updates (Item 9).

Members of the public may click the following link to watch the live stream of the Board of County Commissioners meeting: Watch Here

Click here for the official agenda packet

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Want more on the meeting summary? Click below to view the Board Action Summary for the May 2, 2024 meeting, provided by the Douglas County Clerk-Treasurer's office.

Board Action Summary