Las Vegas senator wants probe of Tahoe development ban

Monday, June 26, 2000 | 2:31 a.m.

Sen. Bill O'Donnell's proposal comes amid debate over affordable housing at the lake, and the bistate Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's proper role in ensuring such housing is built.

On Wednesday, two TRPA governing board members will ask colleagues to reconsider last month's conclusion that Tahoe's counties have made insufficient progress in building affordable housing for casino workers and other low-wage earners.

The finding automatically triggered a moratorium on divisions of parcels targeted by TRPA as being suitable for affordable housing. Agency officials said they want to ensure that land isn't used for costly condominiums.

O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, is on the legislative commission overseeing TRPA and has asked to appear before the governing board. Unless the TRPA decision to enact the moratorium is reversed, O'Donnell said he plans to ask for a probe by the attorney general.

"I think it's completely out of control and they have no authority to do what they're doing," O'Donnell said.

John Marshall, TRPA legal counsel and acting director, said the agency's action is legally justified.

"Housing significantly affects the environment, which is TRPA's major responsibility to protect," Marshall said.

O'Donnell says the agency is focusing too much energy on affordable housing when it's falling behind on major environmental improvement projects.

"The TRPA, first of all, does not need to be in the business of social engineering," O'Donnell said. "The danger is the lake. We've lost the concentration on keeping the lake pure."

Dave Solaro, El Dorado County's appointee to TRPA, agrees in part. Solaro wants to resurrect a coalition of the area's local governments, the Tahoe Basin Association of Governments, to focus on the affordable housing issue and allow TRPA to focus on broader environmental goals.

Solaro and Brian Sandoval, Nevada's at-large appointee to TRPA, both asked for reconsideration of TRPA's May 24 decision on affordable housing.