The site on Wednesday where Barton Health hopes to build a new hospital in Stateline.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
The level of the review for the new Barton Hospital project at Stateline was raised to an environmental impact statement last week, according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
As the highest level of environmental review, the statement will likely take a year to complete. An initial scoping meeting discussion will occur May 14 during the TRPA’s Advisory Planning Commission meeting.
The Barton Hospital project at 168 Highway 50 has undergone increasing scrutiny after repeated demands from neighbors to consider the impacts that the hospital could have.
At a previous scoping meeting for the environmental assessment, tensions ran high as attendees enumerated their concerns with the noise and environmental changes from the helipad and construction, the vehicle miles travelled impacts in driving to a farther site, and the affects on the scenic corridor from the height.
Barton mitigated the groundwater pollution that was previously on the site, but these conversations came up again after TRPA’s cease and desist for the flooding on site earlier this year.
According to TRPA code compliance manager Steve Sweet’s statements in the cease and desist letter, these came about as a result of previous conversations on water infiltration and best management practices that were left unaddressed. As a result of the cease and desist, Barton updated their best management practices.
“Barton is committed to the health of our community, which includes the health of our environment and Lake Tahoe,” said Barton Public Information Officer Mindi Befu. “We continue to follow guidelines set forth by the TRPA. Although an environmental impact statement will add more time to the process, it will ensure environmental requirements are met.”
The statement will examine whether the proposed project meets regional environmental standards and measure the potential immediate and cumulative impacts on areas like water quality, traffic, scenic views, and forest health.
While previous scoping comments that were submitted will be carried over, the public may submit comments to both the TRPA and Douglas County regarding the project.
More information about the project and where to submit comments can be found on Barton’s project page.
Eli Ramos is part of the 2024–26 cohort of California Local News Fellows through UC Berkeley.