July – Tahoe Living: Affordable Housing News and Events

Encouraging Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) was the first strategy that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) took on in 2020 as part of its dedicated initiative to address affordable housing in the Tahoe Basin. Across the country, ADUs are known to:

• Reduce sprawl because they are built on already developed land
• Be more affordable to build because they are constructed on land that is already owned
• Provide an income source to homeowners
• Expand living options for individuals, family members, couples, or seniors

So, how well is this strategy working in Tahoe? Read on for successes and challenges and the latest stats on ADUs in the Tahoe Basin.

-Kaley Arboleda, Assistant Planner

Latest ADU StatsADUs continue to be one of the most effective tools for adding housing in the Tahoe Basin. As of 2018, 91 ADUs have been permitted and 35 units have been constructed across the region.Whether it’s a garage conversion, a detached cottage, or an addition to an existing home, ADUs offer flexible housing options for locals while making efficient use of land already served by existing infrastructure.Want to see how ADU activity breaks down by jurisdiction, or track progress over time? Check out TRPA’s ADU Dashboard for a closer look at permitting and construction trends across the basin.

Upcoming Governing Board Meeting Tune in to the TRPA Governing Board meeting on Wednesday, July 22 for Senior Planner, Jacob Stock’s informational presentation of the three Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin project alternatives derived from public input that will be studied in the Environmental Impact Statement.  The alternatives include a mix of strategies that maintain the Regional Plan’s development limits, each with an overarching theme:No Project Alternative: continue to rely on the homebuilding and commuting patterns we have today.Housing Forward Approach: encourage infill development and redevelopment with the goal of lowering costs for affordable and workforce housing.Housing Preservation Approach: utilize existing housing stock as much as possible.Meeting materials are posted here.

Coffee Hour: ADUs and Tahoe Housing Policy

TRPA and partners will be continuing our “Coffee Hour” meetups to cultivate understanding and dialogue about proposed policies and other housing solutions. Join us for the upcoming session:

Community Conversation with Erin Casey, Executive Director of the Tahoe Housing Hub
Friday, July 31, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom 
Join a conversation with Erin Caseyabout the challenges and successes of building accessory dwelling units in Placer County, how this strategy relates to the Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin project, and the potential for this small housing type to support our workforce in other parts of the basin in the future.