The Town of Truckee participated in a joint jurisdictional meeting with Nevada County, Grass Valley, and Nevada City on October 30 at the Miner’s Foundry in Nevada City. The event included presentations from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as well as multiple panels focused on housing production, Housing Element progress, and innovative regional solutions.
Principal Planner Yumie Dahn joined planners from neighboring jurisdictions to highlight progress on implementing the 6th Cycle (current) Housing Element. Truckee has achieved:
- 65% of its very low-income RHNA allocation
- 80% of its low-income allocation
- 49% of its moderate-income allocation
Much of this progress has been driven by Town-supported affordable housing developments, including Coldstream Commons, Frishman Hollow II, and the Artist Lofts.
Truckee’s ADU program has also played a significant role. With streamlined review and a dedicated ADU planner, the Town has supported 109 completed ADUs since 2018, expanding options for long-term housing and incremental infill.
Panelists representing Nevada County, Grass Valley, and Nevada City echoed similar challenges to Truckee: environmental constraints, increasing construction and insurance costs, and state requirements to zone for higher-density housing. All jurisdictions emphasized the importance of regional strategies and ongoing collaboration to meet shared housing goals.
Housing Program Analyst Lynn Baumgartner joined partners from Placemate and the Truckee Tahoe Workforce Housing Agency to discuss workforce housing tools and models, including distinctions between workforce, affordable, and employer-provided housing. They discussed public–private partnership programs such as Lease to Locals and Rooted Renters, and the role of Joint Powers Authorities in supporting and developing workforce housing initiatives.
A final Housing Solutions Showcase featured organizations including Geoship, the Regional Housing Authority, Soul Learning Institute, and Habitat for Humanity, each underscoring the value of community partnerships in delivering new housing opportunities.
Development of the 2027–2035 Housing Element
As Truckee continues this regional work, the Town has also launched its update of the 2027–2035 Housing Element. This multi-year process guides Truckee's planning for housing needs across all income levels and is the only part of the General Plan that must be reviewed and certified by the State of California.
Community members are invited to participate in a joint Town Council and Planning Commission workshop on Tuesday, December 9, from 5:00–7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. The workshop will include a brief presentation and small-group discussions focused on identifying potential locations for future higher-density housing. Spanish interpretation will be available, and community input will help shape early direction for this important long-range plan.