Nevada County Local News: Land Use & Development


All Local Land Use & Development News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

Image caption: Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s scenic beauty, or cause more problems than it solves?
CEQA: The Surprising Story of CA’s Key Environmental Law

The California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, is both the state’s signature environmental legislation, and is also often named as the villain in the state’s housing shortage. But the story may not be that simple.

Image caption: The Baldwin Hills area in South Los Angeles is one region where a state conservancy would keep open land accessible to the public.
California’s 10 State Conservancies: How They Protect Parks and Open Land

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.

Image caption: Since 1972, the California Coastal Commission has ruled over the state’s shoreline.
California Coastal Commission: Where It Comes From, What It Does

What is the California Coastal Commission? How one of the state’s most powerful agency protects public access to the state’s scenic coast from Mexico to Oregon.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

11/01/2024
Image for display with article titled Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Major Improvement Projects in Truckee

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Town of Truckee held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of two significant capital improvement projects: the Truckee River Legacy Trail 4A and the West River Streetscape Project.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

10/29/2024
Learn more about the November 5 meeting of the Judicial Council’s Court Facilities Advisory Committee and the two sites under consideration for the new Nevada County Courthouse.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

10/24/2024
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved the application to develop a 16 acre parcel on Wolf Road in Grass Valley into a community meeting center and traditional craft school.

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo From Tahoe Daily Tribune...

10/22/2024
Image for display with article titled Forest Thinning Continues at Lake Tahoe

Forest health is a top priority of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), a landscape-scale collaboration and partnership between nearly 80 public and private organizations to achieve the environmental goals of the region. To date, partners have treated nearly 95,000 acres in Lake Tahoe Basin forests to reduce hazardous fuels.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

10/21/2024
Capturing and storing carbon underground is a big part of California’s efforts to tackle climate change but community members and environmentalists say it prolongs the life of fossil fuels.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

10/17/2024
The Yes and No on 33 campaigns have collectively spent more than $140 million. CalMatters fact checked some of the more pervasive claims made by both sides.

California Local Pin Marker From The Union...

10/17/2024
Nevada City has started work on improvements to the Surgarloaf Trail.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/14/2024
Image for display with article titled Second Tahoe Living Workshop Gives North Shore a Chance to Contribute

After the first North Shore workshop was cancelled due to the Davis Fire, the Tahoe Living team rescheduled their "Cultivating Community" workshop to October 7, giving North Tahoe residents an opportunity to talk about what they want to see in housing development.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/12/2024
Image for display with article titled Forum Addresses Tahoe/Truckee Housing

A report on the Hops and Homes forum held on September 19 to discuss the issues surrounding the housing crisis in Tahoe/Truckee.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

10/11/2024
A public meeting is scheduled for October 22 for a discussion of future uses of the Nevada City Courthouse.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/09/2024
Image for display with article titled Nevada County Supervisors Uphold Planning Commission Decision on Mixed-Use Development

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors met on Oct. 8 to discuss significant developments, including the Joint Powers Agreement for the new Truckee Library and an appeal regarding a proposed mixed-use development.

Tahoe Guide logo From Tahoe Guide...

10/07/2024
Image for display with article titled Comment on E-Bike Trail Usage

U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has released the final Environmental Assessment and Draft Decision Notice for the Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project, which examined e-bike use and trail system access and connectivity on National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Depending on the administrative review process, the final decision could be released by January 2025.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/06/2024
Image for display with article titled Applications Open for Affordable Housing Forums

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has launched the next phase of its affordable and workforce housing program, the Tahoe Living strategic priority, and announced today opportunities for additional community representation.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/03/2024
Image for display with article titled Town of Truckee’s River Revitalization Steering Committee Marks First Year of Progress

A group of 18 dedicated community leaders appointed to the Town of Truckee's River Revitalization Steering Committee have been active in their work over the past year to formulate possible ways to reshape and revitalize the downtown river corridor. Formed in 2023 as a specific action of the General Plan 2040, R2SC has focused on balancing environmental protection with economic development. 

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

10/03/2024
Public comment is requested for a proposal that would reduce building regulations on owner-built homes in rural Nevada County.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

10/02/2024
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Housing Hub Now Accepting Applications for Accessory Dwelling Unit Accelerator Pilot Program

The Tahoe Housing Hub is now accepting applications for its groundbreaking Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Accelerator Pilot Program.

Tahoe Daily Tribune logo From Tahoe Daily Tribune...

10/01/2024
Image for display with article titled Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team Releases New Tool Showing Fire Restrictions

The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team announced the release of a new map that has been created to showcase fire restrictions throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. The map shows who owns the land and what type of fire is permitted. It can be found here underneath the "Prescribed Fire & Current/Upcoming Fuels Reductions" map on Tahoe Living With Fire.

Sierra Sun logo From Sierra Sun...

09/27/2024
Image for display with article titled ‘Still the Same Plan’ Says Sierra Watch on the Amended Village at Palisades Tahoe Area Plan

After the Placer County Planning Commission gave their recommendation to remove the indoor water park elements of the Mountain Adventure Camp Facility, Sierra Watch, one of the primary opposing groups, still have concerns.

California Local Pin Marker From YubaNet...

09/27/2024
The public is invited to learn more about the Lower Sawtooth Trailhead Improvements Project at two upcoming community meetings hosted by Placer County and the US Forest Service in October.
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