Martis Valley California
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AN ADVISORY SERVICES PANEL REPORT Martis Valley California www.uli.org 40078_Cover.indd 3 1/19/09 9:24:05 AM Martis Valley California An Innovative Approach to Workforce Housing September 22–25, 2008 An Advisory Services Panel Report ULI–the Urban Land Institute 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W. Suite 500 West Washington, D.C. 20007-5201 About the Urban Land Institute he mission of the Urban Land Institute is to • Sharing knowledge through education, applied provide leadership in the responsible use of research, publishing, and electronic media; and land and in creating and sustaining thriving T communities worldwide. ULI is committed to • Sustaining a diverse global network of local practice and advisory efforts that address cur- • Bringing together leaders from across the rent and future challenges. fields of real estate and land use policy to exchange best practices and serve community Established in 1936, the Institute today has more needs; than 40,000 members worldwide, representing the entire spectrum of the land use and develop- • Fostering collaboration within and beyond ment disciplines. Professionals represented include ULI’s membership through mentoring, dia- developers, builders, property own ers, investors, logue, and problem solving; architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, • Exploring issues of urbanization, conservation, academics, students, and librarians. regeneration, land use, capital formation, and sustainable development; ULI relies heavily on the experience of its mem- bers. It is through member involvement and • Advancing land use policies and design prac- information resources that ULI has been able to tices that respect the uniqueness of both built set standards of excellence in de velopment prac - and natural environments; tice. The Institute has long been recognized as one of the world’s most respected and widely quoted sources of objective information on urban plan- ning, growth, and development. ©2009 by ULI–the Urban Land Institute 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W. Suite 500 West Washington, D.C. 20007-5201 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission of the copy- right holder is prohibited. Cover photo courtesy Martis Fund. 2 An Advisory Services Panel Report About ULI Advisory Services he goal of ULI’s Advisory Services Pro gram able to make accurate assessments of a sponsor’s is to bring the finest expertise in the real issues and to provide recommendations in a com- estate field to bear on complex land use plan- pressed amount of time. T ning and development projects, programs, and policies. Since 1947, this program has assem- A major strength of the program is ULI’s unique bled well over 400 ULI-member teams to help ability to draw on the knowledge and expertise sponsors find creative, practical solutions for of its members, including land developers and issues such as downtown redevelopment, land owners, public officials, academics, representa- management strategies, evaluation of develop- tives of financial institutions, and others. In fulfill- ment potential, growth management, community ment of the mission of the Urban Land Insti- revitalization, brownfields redevelopment, mili- tute, this Advisory Services panel report is tary base reuse, provision of low-cost and afford- intended to pro vide objective advice that will able housing, and asset management strategies, promote the re sponsible use of land to enhance the among other matters. A wide variety of public, environment. private, and nonprofit organizations have con- tracted for ULI’s Advisory Services. ULI Program Staff Each panel team is composed of highly qualified Marta V. Goldsmith professionals who volunteer their time to ULI. Senior Vice President, Community/ They are chosen for their knowledge of the panel Education Provost topic and screened to ensure their objectiv- ity. ULI’s interdisciplinary panel teams pro- Thomas W. Eitler Vice President, Advisory Services vide a holistic look at development problems. A re spected ULI member who has previous panel Matthew Rader experience chairs each panel. Manager, Advisory Services The agenda for a three-day panel assignment is Caroline Dietrich in tensive. It includes an in-depth briefing com- Panel Associate, Advisory Services posed of a tour of the site and meetings with sponsor representatives; interviews with com- Gwen McCall munity representatives; and one day for formu- Senior Administrative Manager, Community lating recommendations. On the final day on Nancy H. Stewart site, the panel makes an oral presentation of its Director, Book Program findings and conclusions to the sponsor. At the request of the sponsor, a written re port is pre- Kimberley Todd pared and published. Manuscript Editor Because the sponsoring entities are responsible Betsy VanBuskirk for significant preparation before the panel’s vis it, Creative Director including sending extensive briefing materials to Martha Loomis each member and arranging for the panel to meet Desktop Publishing Specialist/Graphics with key local community members and stake- holders in the project under consideration, par- Craig Chapman ticipants in ULI’s five-day panel assignments are Director, Publishing Operations Martis Valley, California, September 22–25, 2008 3 Acknowledgments he panel wishes to thank the Martis Fund’s The panel extends thanks to everyone else who board of directors for bringing them to the prepared the briefing materials, organized the Martis Valley to explore opportunities for interviews, and supported the panel’s work on T creating workforce housing at Hopkins site. Everyone the panel met provided great Ranch. The panel also thanks Terry Watt of the insights and offered a glimpse into the community Martis Fund; John Eaton and Stefanie Olivieri spirit that makes the Martis Valley a great place of the Mountain Area Preservation Foundation; to live, work, and play. Larry Orman and David Welch of Sierra Watch; Nick Hackstock of the Highlands Companies; and Eneas Kane, Keith Franke, and Mark Kehke of DMB Associates. 4 An Advisory Services Panel Report Contents ULI Panel and Project Staff 6 Foreword: The Panel’s Assignment 7 Market Potential 9 Planning and Design 12 Development Strategies 16 Implementation 19 Conclusion 22 About the Panel 23 Martis Valley, California, September 22–25, 2008 5 ULI Panel and Project Staff Panel Chair ULI Project Staff Leigh Ferguson Heidi Sweetnam Senior Developer Vice President, Community Outreach Bayer Properties Birmingham, Alabama Renee Pean ULI Graduate Student Intern Panel Janine Cuneo Project Director, Terwilliger Center Urban Land Institute Washington, D.C. Tom Gardner Senior Associate EDAW Denver Denver, Colorado Gregory Melanson Senior Vice President Bank of America Washington, D.C. Betsy Nahas Wilson Assistant Project Manager BRIDGE Housing Corporation San Diego, California 6 An Advisory Services Panel Report Foreword: The Panel’s Assignment OREGON IDAHO he Martis Valley is located in Placer County, California, in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe. The T Lake Tahoe area straddles the California/ Nevada border and includes Truckee, Califor- nia and Reno, Nevada. The area’s stunning scen- ery, extensive recreational amenities, and great NEVADA UTAH Martis Valley climate attract seasonal residents and visitors Truckee Carson City from across California, Nevada, and beyond. The region’s economy relies on tourism, focusing on Sacramento golf, biking, and winter skiing, as well as gaming in nearby Reno, Nevada. San Francisco Oakland San Jose The Martis Valley continues to experience intense Fresno housing growth. Its development is one of the big- gest land use and growth issues in the Sierra. Cur- Las Vegas rently, Placer County is planning more than 6,000 CALIFORNIA new houses in subdivisions stretching from Truc- kee to the Tahoe Basin. ARIZONA The Martis Fund Los Angeles The Martis Fund is a nonprofit organization estab- lished in March 2006 through a landmark agree- San Diego ment between conservation groups and DMB/ Highlands Group LLC, a developer. The Fund’s board of directors includes representatives of Location map. Mountain Area Preservation Foundation, Sierra Hopkins Ranch Site History Watch, and DMB/Highlands Group LLC. Hopkins Ranch is a 280-acre site that was origi- The Fund’s originating agreement set aside the nally part of the Tahoe National Forest (TNF). 280-acre Hopkins Ranch site for open space and The Joerger family acquired the site through the workforce housing. It also established a one per- Hopkins Land Exchange, an agreement between cent conveyance fee on the sale and resale of the family and TNF. In 2000, DMB/Highlands properties on the Siller Ranch site (now known Group acquired the site and planned 65 single- family home sites, an 18-hole golf course, and open as Martis Camp) to support habitat and forest space with connections to the regional trail sys- restoration, conservation, and workforce hous- tem. Placer County approved the master plan ing. Hopkins Ranch offers 52 acres of develop- in 2004. able land. Fifty workforce housing units are cur- rently being built by DMB/Highlands Group and In 2006, DMB reached an agreement with the 42 acres remain for additional workforce housing Mountain Area Preservation Foundation and development. Sierra Watch to break Hopkins Ranch into three Martis Valley, California, September 22–25, 2008 7 LINCOLN MINIDOKA 5 LAKE OREGON KLAMATH 84 JEROME OWYHEE