From peak to shore, billionaire developers are restricting public access to Homewood Mountain Resort, the heart of Lake Tahoe’s West Shore.

In 2011, regulators and the community approved a legally binding Master Plan for Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR) in which Homewood developer JMA Ventures promised to “maintain the heritage of a ski resort that can be enjoyed equally by local residents and visitors.”

In 2022, JMA Ventures, backed by their new partners, Discovery Land Company and Mohari Hospitality, stated that they will severely restrict public access to Homewood Mountain Resort to paid members, at not-yet-revealed cost. 

This is a bait-and-switch that violates the community-approved Master Plan!

Keeping Homewood Public is a race against time. But it's not too late. As we speak, developers are negotiating with land use regulators at Placer County Planning and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA ). Our community needs to make our voices heard in those negotiations. Now is the time to hold TRPA and Placer County accountable for guaranteeing the public access and community benefits codified in the Master Plan.

Sign our petition now to tell TRPA and Placer County to honor the Master Plan’s promises to the community:

TO:

Cindy Gustafson, Placer County Supervisor, District 5

Stacy Wydra, Placer County Planning Services Division

Chris Pahule, Placer County Planning Services Division

Julie Regan, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Paul Nielsen, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Jeff Cowen, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

In 2011, TRPA and Placer County approved a legally binding Master Plan for Homewood Mountain Resort that documented a reimagined public ski area with significant community benefits.

Now that the developers seek to begin construction in earnest, I am asking for your commitment to securing the Master Plan’s promises on behalf of all Tahoe Basin residents and visitors. 

I request that you withhold all permits for the project until the developers legally commit to the following:

(1) Enable year-round public access to HMR, in perpetuity, for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and picnicking, including for day visitors, at prices comparable to Tahoe Basin regional ski area rates. 

(2) Upgrade HMR facilities as promised, including gondola, mid-mountain and base lodges, Ellis lift replacement, and facilities for day skiers.

(3) Ensure the resort’s architecture, including the houses under construction on Fawn Street, evokes the “Old Tahoe” look of existing West Shore architecture such as the Ehrman Mansion. 

(4) Deliver the promised community benefits, such as affordable housing for employees, ski shuttles and other traffic mitigations, food and beverage outlets, and inclusive gathering spaces that unite and strengthen our West Shore community of local residents, visitors, and small businesses.

Finally, I expect TRPA and Placer County to take maximum available legal measures to ensure HMR developers comply both now and in the future, including, but not limited to, development agreements, bonded funds, deed restrictions, or permit conditions.

Thank you for your attention.

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Please note: When you sign this petition, you will be given a chance to pay to promote this petition through Change.org. That donation will not go to Keep Homewood Public, it will go to Change.org. It is your choice to donate there.

Donate to Keep Homewood Public
As a nonprofit, independent, grassroots organization, KHP is crowdfunding donations to further our resistance work. We use your donations to (a) create public pressure, including exploring legal strategies, to hold Homewood developers accountable to the Master Plan, and (b) raise awareness through our newsletters, signs & banners, social media, website, in-person community meetings, and speaking at homeowners association meetings.

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You can also support us by writing an email to TRPA and Placer County, buying our KHP logo merchandise, following us on social media, or joining a future community meeting. Visit our website to learn more about these options.