Jibboom Street Housing Project Approved Unanimously by Planning Commission; Sierra Club Hosts Roadless Rule Town Hall; Construction To Begin on East Shore Trail Parking and Safety Improvements; More

TRUCKEE

Residences at Jibboom, a four-building, 62-unit mixed-use development proposed in Downtown Truckee, was approved unanimously by the Truckee Planning Commission during a special meeting on Monday, May 4.

Specifically, the commissioners adopted a resolution that determined the project to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), approved six amendments and a tentative map, and granted eight waivers of development standards. Eighty conditions of approval, or requirements placed on the development, were proposed; four had minor text changes at the request of project applicant Sean Whelan and attorney for Jibboom Street, LLC, Brian O’Neill. Another condition of approval was also requested to change by Whelan, but the planning commission elected not to.

This is the second version of Residences at Jibboom that has been approved by the planning commission.

“We’re here rehearing a project you already approved in September 2024,” Whelan said during his presentation at the meeting. “And as you’ve been advised by staff, this is not a discretionary decision and you cannot legally disapprove these amendments. These are minor changes that should have been handled administratively back in October 2025 when I first raised them with planning. Instead, we’re here seven months later with roughly $400,000 in added project cost driven by subjectivity and process, not by any change to the project.”

While the project itself has a complex back-and-forth history with the town’s planning department (read Long-Standing Jibboom Housing Project to Go Before Planning Commission, Whether Hearing Limit is Reached to Be Determined online), the version appeared before the commission at the May meeting was backed up by California’s State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) and Senate Bill 330, also known as the Housing Crisis Act. Between those two constraints, the planning commission was confined to what it could demand for changes to the project. Town of Truckee Attorney Andrew Morris explained this during the meeting:

“SB 330 and other state laws from the last decade or so have increasingly reduced the scope of the town’s latitude to say no to housing projects. The town and the commission are allowed to say no to housing projects only if specific findings can be made. [As has been] pointed out in this case, we think that the findings for denial might be difficult to make. That’s why the staff recommendation is for approval … With the appropriate conditions, which we think we have, we think this project is very approvable.”

The requested waivers included such items as setbacks, height, and landscaping requirements.

The project’s effective date of approval is May 15, barring an appeal to the town council by 5 p.m. on May 14.

~ AH

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Sierra Club is helping organize two upcoming town halls near Sacramento and in Lake Tahoe in defense of the Roadless Rule, a U.S. Forest Service protection approved in 2001 that is now being targeted for repeal by the Trump administration. 

The expected rollback would mark a massive change in forest policy, opening up to 45 million acres nationwide to potential development. These events are an excellent opportunity to share concerns and connect with local community members, including conservation groups, former U.S. Forest Service employees, and experts on forest ecology and fire. 

The first town hall will be held on May 12 in Rocklin (Sacramento) at 5:30 p.m. on the Sierra College campus.

The second town hall is scheduled for May 13 in South Lake Tahoe at 5:30 p.m. on the Lake Tahoe Community College campus.

~ Sierra Club press release

INCLINE VILLAGE

The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) is advancing the next phase of coordinated East Shore Trail Parking improvements with construction set to begin this month on the state Route 28 North Parking Project (phase two of the Tunnel Creek Parking Project), near Incline Village. The project is part of the East Shore Trail expansion, and a broader regional effort to improve safety, enhance recreational access, and better manage parking along the SR 28 corridor. 

The project will provide 38 paid parking spaces immediately north of the existing 90-space paid parking area at the East Shore Trailhead located on SR 28 in Incline Village. In addition, the project includes a public transit shelter on SR 28 just north of Lakeshore Drive for southbound transit passengers. Finally, the project includes environmental restoration of an eroded shoulder area on the west side of SR 28 known as Rocky Point to protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity.

TTD awarded the construction contract to F.W. Carson Company, a local contractor with extensive experience delivering transportation and infrastructure projects in the Tahoe Basin.

The East Shore Trail Parking Expansion Project builds on ongoing regional parking and mobility improvements designed to address high seasonal visitation and better manage limited capacity in one of the most heavily used recreation corridors in the Tahoe Basin.

As part of this broader strategy, TTD is working with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit on additional improvements to parking areas which are planned for opening in spring 2026, including: Chimney Beach, Secret Harbor, and Spooner Mobility Hub.

Learn more at tahoetransportation.org/projects/sr-28-north-parking-project.

~ Tahoe Transportation District press release

TRUCKEE

Four years into Measure T implementation, Truckee Fire Protection District is reporting the most comprehensive wildfire readiness gains since the program began. Strong neighborhood participation through Firewise Communities is helping reduce wildfire fuels and improve readiness before the 2026 fire season.

Truckee Fire is calling on residents and visitors to take action ahead of the 2026 wildfire season by following the district’s Wildfire Readiness Checklist. 

• Clear 5 feet around all structures: Remove pine needles, leaves, and debris, including under decks and stairs. Be sure to store woodpiles, gas cans and other combustibles at least 30 feet from the house. Rent a 6-yard dumpster with 75% reimbursement through Truckee Fire’s Green Waste Dumpster Rebate Program. 
• Remove dead vegetation and manage live vegetation: Clear dry grasses, weeds, shrubs and dead trees, prune tree limbs at least 6 feet above the ground, and increase spacing between trees and shrubs. Use Truckee Fire’s free green waste curbside pick-up for shrubs, trees and branches up to eight inches in diameter. 
• Make address visible: Ensure house numbers are at least 4 inches tall and readable from the road. Request a free reflective address sign through Truckee Fire’s Reflective Address Sign Program. 
• Schedule a visit from Truckee Fire: Request a free, customized defensible space report with an easy-to-follow to-do list for defensible space and home hardening. Schedule at truckeefire.org/dspace. 
• Connect with neighbors: Share this information, sign up for emergency alerts at tahoealerts.com and download the Watch Duty app at watchduty.org. 

For an overview of Truckee Fire’s Measure T programs and resources, visit truckeefire.org/wildfireprevention.

~ Truckee Fire press release

TRUCKEE

A lawsuit was filed against Western Region of Professional Ski Instructors of America & American Association of Snowsports Instructors (PSIA-AASI) following the suspension of candidates who had run for its board and received majority votes in an April election. According to the organization, the members were already under investigation and considered members in bad standing leading up to and during the election. 

PSIA-AASI West is a membership-based organization for the professional snowsports community on the West Coast and is headquartered in Truckee. Moonshine Ink reported on the suspension of PSIA-AASI West members in its April 10 briefs.

After the conclusion of the election for four new board members, in which Barclay Moore, Bryan Martel, Brent Bobolitt, and Julie Brown were majority winners, Moore, Martel, and fifth place Alycia Glines of Team4Change were disqualified, leaving two spaces to sixth place incumbent Neil Bussiere and seventh place Sue Spain. Bobolitt also ran with Team4Change. The new members of the board were seated on April 27. PSIA-AASI staff had endorsed Spain.

According to a letter from PSIA-AASI to Moore and shared on snowprosengaged.com, PSIA-AASI West accused Moore of harassment and public misrepresentation while providing exam preparation services he was reportedly not qualified to offer. 

Members of PSIA-AASI petitioned to prevent the seating of the new board, and were unsuccessful. A temporary restraining order was also filed by members of PSIA-AASI on April 21, and denied by the Sacramento Superior Court. This group, consisting of Moore, Martel, Glines, David Achey, Greg Felsch, Blaine Lomen, and Jeff Connors, alleged that the organization’s CEO, Marisa Cooper, along with other directors, manipulated the election and its results. The group also held an informal meeting, voting to oust all current board members, an action they don’t have the power to oversee.

In response, PSIA-AASI West leadership stated that it would hold open board seats for members under disciplinary review, should they be reinstated as members in good standing. However, the seats of the highest vote-getters are now filled. No statements have been made regarding whether the vote-winners will be reinstated. Reportedly, instructors are attempting to leave the organization, though doing so risks their certifications.

Opponents to the seating of the board continue to push back.

~ MR

TRUCKEE

In honor of Nurses Week (May 6 through 12), a nationwide celebration recognizing the compassion, dedication, and impact of nurses, the nursing team at Tahoe Forest Health System is giving back to the community it serves. This year, TFHS nurses, with the help of medical staff and their generous contributions, have collectively donated $10,000 to several local nonprofit organizations that support health, wellness, and community resilience in the Truckee/Tahoe region.

As part of this initiative, contributions have been distributed to the following organizations:

• The Scotty Lapp Foundation provides financial assistance to families facing medical hardships, helping cover essential living and healthcare-related expenses during times of crisis.
• Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is dedicated to rescuing and caring for animals in need, the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe promotes humane treatment, adoption, and community education. This donation is made in memory of a beloved Tahoe Forest nurse and in honor of Greg Tarter.
• Sierra Community House supports local residents through crisis intervention, food security programs, legal assistance, and family strengthening services.
• Tahoe Forest Health System Care Coordination Funds will support patient families in need by providing gas and grocery cards, helping ease financial burdens during medical care.

Through this collective effort, Tahoe Forest Health System nurses continue to demonstrate their dedication to compassionate care, both inside and outside of the hospital.

~ Tahoe Forest Health System press release

PLACER COUNTY

The Homeless Resource Council of the Sierras released the 2026 regional Point-in-Time Count results. Following the release, Placer County is recognizing continuing challenges alongside meaningful progress in efforts to reduce homelessness and expand supportive housing, shelter capacity, and behavioral health treatment. The findings show a nearly 10% decrease in homelessness in Placer County since last year, deepening decreases seen over a five-year period and reflecting the impact of Placer’s consistent and targeted investments.

Although a number of other counties have not yet published their results, Placer has consistently ranked among the lowest in the state for homelessness per capita, and early indicators suggest that position is unlikely to change. Taken together, the drop in homelessness alongside population growth means Placer County’s rate of homelessness per capita now stands at 15.2 people experiencing homelessness per 10,000 residents — well below the statewide rate of approximately 48 people experiencing homelessness per 10,000 residents.

~ Placer County press release

LAKE TAHOE

On Sunday, June 7, America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride returns to Lake Tahoe, bringing hundreds of cyclists of all ages and abilities together for a fully supported ride around one of the most scenic routes in the country — all to support Blood Cancer United.

An eight-year-old named Aiden is this year’s local Honored Hero, who was diagnosed with blood cancer at just two years old, helping put a face to why riders take on this iconic challenge. 

America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride was recently ranked among USA Today’s top road cycling events. For more than 30 years, the event has raised more than $118 million to support blood cancer research and patient services.

~ America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride press release

TAHOE/TRUCKEE

The Emergency Departments of Tahoe Forest Health System, serving both Incline Village Community Hospital (IVCH) and Tahoe Forest Hospital (TFH), have achieved a major milestone in pediatric emergency care, significantly advancing their ability to provide high-quality, child-focused treatment through the successful completion of the nationally recognized Pediatric Readiness Assessment (PRA).

The PRA evaluates hospitals nationwide on their preparedness to deliver safe and effective emergency care to children. Since 2022, Tahoe Forest Health System has taken a coordinated, team-based approach to strengthening pediatric readiness across both hospital sites.

These efforts focused on closing key gaps in pediatric emergency care, including expanding pediatric-specific equipment and supplies, implementing updated clinical protocols and guidelines, enhancing staff training and competency, improving quality tracking systems, and strengthening coordination with trauma and specialty care partners.

This advancement is especially meaningful for families in Incline Village, Truckee, and surrounding mountain communities, where geography and seasonal conditions can delay access to specialized pediatric services.

~ Tahoe Forest Health System press release