The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) adopted the Douglas County South Shore Area Plan, the first local government Area Plan enacted under the 202 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan. The South Shore Area Plan will allow for Douglas County to improve the environmental protection of Lake Tahoe, while easing the possibility for expansion of ski resorts, and the development of new residential and commercial properties. The plan not only implements environmental policies, it “delegates more permitting authority for small and mid-sized projects to the County while maintaining TRPA’s permitting authority for larger projects,” according to the TRPA press release. The framework was adopted by TRPA in December, 2012 as part of the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan Update. Four other local governments are currently pushing for Area Plans and if approved will all become part of the Regional Plan.