No sooner than the ink dried on the TRPA approval of the Homewood Resort than lawyers representing Friends of West Shore filed a brief to halt the development. So, this could be the end of it. The goal of zero development can only be called quixotic. Here in California, the growth controls have been in place longer than in most other states, save Hawaii. An entire generation of environmentalists are now mature planners and have witnessed the results of their handiwork statewide: over development in places, a little in some others, and virtually none in some others, such as Tahoe and Sonoma County.
Yes, there will be an increase in traffic, but we are witness to the increases every weekend during ski season. On the other hand, we have public transit( several different entities), a bike path, a new transit center near completion, and even a private ferry service(true!).
None of this makes a difference to those individuals who view the old days as the place that we must return to for a variety of reasons, none of which are reasonable nor rational.
How it all plays out, nobody knows, but the economic climate is precarious at best, and disastrous at worst. Developers are sure to interpret this and other lawsuits as the final straw, and combined with low snowfall, lack of tourism generally, high gas prices, higher individual and sales taxes, falling real estate prices statewide, and lack of local help will surely kill the investment. One can't blame the business interests for looking elsewhere to take the calculated risk.
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