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Tahoe Hockey Academy approved in Meyers

Autumn Whitney
awhitney@tahoedailytribune.com
On Wednesday, the TRPA Governing Board unanimously approveda hockey facility off Old Meyers Grade. The project fit the regulations of group facility use, and permits will be finalized before taking further steps.
Courtesy / TRPA |

MEYERS, Calif. — On Wednesday, June 22, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board unanimously approved a hockey academy in Meyers. The land was previously approved by El Dorado County in April, as it fit the requirements of a special permit issued in 2002. The proposed project will change a single-family residence on a 16.4-acre parcel to a recreational group facility used for training hockey players. It will be located off South Upper Truckee Road.

Wendy Jepson, current planning division manager, began the meeting on the Recreational Group Hockey Facility with a presentation highlighting the main components of the project and concluded with a staff recommendation of approval. Mike Dill, who has worked on the project site since its conception in 1995 and is the project leader of the Tahoe Hockey Academy facilities, gave a presentation on how the proposed facilities fit with the Meyers community plan.

“This site development is consistent with group use,” Dill said at the meeting. “It would allow an end recreation user after 20 years.”



After hearing details about the proposal, Meyers residents expressed concerns regarding fire safety, flooding, ice rink conditions, zoning and a lack of awareness about the project. Some believe Tahoe Hockey Academy is a school and therefore does not fit the requirements of group facility use.

“I’m not opposed to a hockey academy, but it violates zoning,” said Jeffrey Spencer, a public commenter, at the meeting. “There was no notification and no efforts of mitigation.”



Members of the governing board discussed the possibility of having hockey academy representatives meet with Meyers residents to work together moving forward.

Shelly Aldean, TRPA Governing Board member, is a supporter of the development plan.

“Invest in the kids,” she said. “Encourage youth to engage in activities [and] address the neighbors’ concerns in order to be good stewards.”

Next, permits must be finalized before those involved in the project break ground.


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