It took 15 years, but the Village at Palisades Tahoe is finally happening.
"We finally reached a resolution for a project that is going to have profound impact and benefit to our community of North Lake Tahoe and Truckee," said Cindy Gustafson, Placer County Supervisor for District 5, where the development will take place.
The development will consist of hotel and commercial space, as well as workforce housing.
It originally called for 1,493 beds when approved in November 2024, but that number has been reduced by 40% to 896.
"Not only does this enable us to move forward as a resort and invest in a world-class village that honors our world-class terrain of Palisades Tahoe, but we feel great that we're able to move forward with so many of the community benefits that are part of this plan," said Amy Ohran, President & Chief Operating Officer for Palisades Tahoe.
But the unanimous approval by the board didn't come without controversy.
Cal Fire requires dead-end roads for large lots to not exceed one mile in total. Olympic Valley Road is longer than that, so Cal Fire approved an exception in February 2025.
"The longer the distance, the greater the chance for that roadway to be cut off by a fire," a public commentor said during Tuesday's meeting, "and if it's cut off and you only have one access, then you're obviously going to be in peril behind that fire."
The county said a new staffed fire station at the west end of the valley and temporary refuge locations, among other improvements, will mitigate these concerns.
Public commentors also brought up concerns with zoning.
The amended plan calls for a potential new school built on lot 16, which is zoned under Village-Forest Recreation. The designation is meant to preserve the landscape.
"Lots 16 & 18 are two of the parcels up there that are not paved over," said Allen Riley, who lives in Olympic Valley. "As soon as you step on them, they are sloping up into the hill, essentially into the gateway of Shirley Canyon, which is a quieter spot. And we don't want to lose that character for that area."
Riley and other commentors say they're not opposed to a public school being built, but they want a plan that's consistent with the zoning.
Joshua Toub's kids attend Creekside Charter School. Its building would be torn down to make way for the construction.
Toub said possibly relocating Creekside to the new school building would be beneficial and mentioned the proposed development around Lot 16.
"So maintaining it as conservation land just does not seem logical to me," Toub said. "I agree, I do enjoy, like, the concept of forest recreation. But let's get real here. I think that it could easily be used for a school with minimal impact."
Within the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan - which was included in Tuesday's meeting materials - it says rezoning Lots 16 and 18 to forest recreation would allow for "trail and trailhead amenities, including bathrooms and parking on these lots, and possibly a school occupying less than one-half acre."
The county said it has not finalized a new location for Creekside, but the new school on Lot 16 is a possibility.
Another concern surrounding Lot 16 is the inclusion of an easement for a road to development on other parcels.
"There was an agreement made with Alterra and the Grandview Luxury Condominium project to provide an easement on Lot 16 to build a road to access their project," one neighbor said during public comment. "My argument is that this agreement was composed, and Lot 16 was zoned as Village Commercial, and it has not been reanalyzed as Village Forest Recreation."
Alterra Mountain Company is the developer for this project.
After urging the board to reanalyze, a public commentor said the road should be considered part of Grandview Luxury's infrastructure.
"I don't feel that should be built on forest recreation land," the public commentor said.
Gustafson said the developers still need to go through the regular process before construction begins.
