Blog – Page 2 – Borelli Architecture

Incline Village Curbside Chipping, Pine Needle Pickup, Deadlines Approaching

During the year, our team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village likes to provide information about living in the mountains and tips to keep your home safe in your natural surroundings. During the fall season, Kelly and I make it a point to clean up our yard and prepare for the winter months to come.

Another bonus of living in the high-elevation wrapped within a forest setting is the free services we receive from various local agencies and organizations.

Read on to see the details about Incline Village Waste Management’s Yard Waste pick-up service and the North Lake Tahoe Protection District’s curbside chipping services.

Next, get your yard and piles in order.

Clean up all the fallen leaves and perhaps limbs or tree debris accumulated over the summer months.
Pine needles and clean yard waste should be placed in large trash bags; place your Waste Management stickers on each load and put them on the curb for pick-up (now through October 28). If you did not get your stickers from Waste Management, or have more questions, see all the details about Incline’s Yard Waste Management Program right here.

Next, take advantage of the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District FREE curbside chipping service if you have branches too big for your regular trash containers. Sign up on this form to make a request.

Then, prepare your curbside piles:

All branches The branch diameter cannot exceed 6 inches.
The pile must not contain stumps, roots, garbage, nails, lumber, or pine cones.
The pile must not exceed 30 feet in length, 6 feet in height, and 6 feet in width.

Repurpose the chips:

Once the chipping has been completed, they will be left right where you left your pile and are ideal for erosion control or natural landscaping. Do note that WHERE you place the clipping is essential as well. The NLTFPD suggests that you keep the chippings AT LEAST five feet away from your home or any structure.

Information on their website also noted that if you spread the chips within 30 feet of a structure, you should be sure they are separated by ‘noncombustible’ areas like rock, pathways, driveways, or dirt.

After you do all the hard work, take time to enjoy the fall season. It will be snowing before you know it!

We hope this information helps you and your family prepare and plan for the winter months. For more tips, visit the blog we posted last fall about Home Winter Preparation Tips. And, if you ever need more insight into what it is like to live in the mountains or need a professional architect in Lake Tahoe to help build your mountain, lakefront, or golf resort home at Lake Tahoe, feel free to reach out at any time.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Best in Basin Awards Announced by TRPA

Every year the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency presents its Best in Basin Awards” that mirror their mission:

To preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment.

This past month, they rolled out the red carpet and presented their annual accolades to the following companies. At our architect firm in Lake Tahoe, we applaud our peers for a job well done!

The nomination period for these awards spanned two years due to delays related to the region’s Covid response. The Best in the Basin Award recipients for 2020 and 2021 are as follows:

Best Water Quality & Restoration Projects

Tahoe Pines Restoration and Public Access Improvement Project
Meyers, Calif.
By California Tahoe Conservancy, Burdick Excavation Company, and Stantec Engineering

Brautovich Park Stream Environment Zone Restoration and Park Rehabilitation Project
Upper Kingsbury Grade, Stateline, Nev.
By Douglas County and Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, Design Workshop, and Impact Construction

Best Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Incline Village Golf Course Maintenance Drainage and Wash Pad Improvement Project
Incline Village, Nev.
By Incline Village General Improvement District Public Works, PR Design and Engineering, Inc., and Cruz Construction Co.

Best Environmental Improvement Program Projects

Dennis T. Machida Greenway Memorial Trail
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
By El Dorado County Department of Transportation, California Tahoe Conservancy, City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College, and Herback General Engineering

Eyes on the Lake – Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection Rapid Response
Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev.
By the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and Marine Taxonomic Services, Inc.

Best Defensible Space and Forest Health Project

NV Energy Resilient Corridor 4100 Line Project
North and East shores, Lake Tahoe, Nev.
By NV Energy and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Best Sustainability Action

Homewood High and Dry Marina Electric Boat Charging
Homewood, Calif.
By JMA Ventures, LLC, Homewood High and Dry Marina, Nautique, Superior Boat Repairs & Service, Ingenity Electric, and the Tahoe Fund

Nominations for the next awards will open late next year and will be for projects completed in 2022 and 2023, according to TRPA. Additional information is available at trpa.gov/how-we-operate/awards.

If you want to learn more about the high-quality standards and environmental regulations that one must employ while designing and building private and commercial properties, please contact us at any time.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

What is a Site Plan and Why Do You Need One?

When you live in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, you have an innate ability to appreciate your surroundings and protect them as best as you can. When working with our clients, we offer professional Site Plan services that enhance your property’s setting while abiding by the strict environmental regulations set by the counties around the Lake and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency – for all the right reasons.

We employ a proactive approach regarding communications with both regulatory officials and interested stakeholders in order to build consensus surrounding a project’s design and objectives. Applying our collective talents and experience, Borelli Architecture in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is here to design your dream home while ensuring we protect the environment that surrounds your investment.

When you work with the team at Borelli Architecture in Lake Tahoe and Carson City, Nevada, you will receive a visual presentation of your property that includes:

location of your home
location of other buildings (guest house, garden sheds)
terraces
extended features (outdoor kitchen, firepit)
playground

When completed, you will have a much better visual of the size and scale of your home as it relates to its orientation on your property.

Your site plan may be presented in different formats.

2D Site Plan This is usually a simple overview that may be black and white or color coded. It’s usually the first step in your home design which gives you an initial understanding of the layout of your home.

3D Site Plan This option is more elaborate and includes a more defined full-color understanding of the structure of your home and its materials and colors, as well as some outdoor features (potential trees, etc.)

3D Video Our team prefers this option and uses this technology to give our clients a much clearer understanding of your site plan, house plan, and environment in which it will be built.

For example, take a tour through our Borelli Architecture Video Models now.

If you have any questions at any time about our services to help you visualize your next home, please reach out at any time.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

How to Secure Permits to Build a Home in Lake Tahoe (Part Two)

Earlier this month we provided you with a list of possible applications and forms that may be critical to complete prior to and during the design and construction of a new home or during a major remodel to a home in Lake Tahoe. That was the first part of this two part series that you need to know about before moving forward.

This section outlines what the TRPA lists as “General Forms” that may be required to complete if your construction project includes additions of home generators, removal of underground tanks, project extensions, significant grading, or if your home is located on the lake.

As a full-service architectural design firm in Lake Tahoe, Borelli Architecture certainly can assist in the process of securing the proper permits then review the details together with you and work with our peers at TRPA to move things forward.

Below is a complete list of applications that may be needed to finalize your building permit.

General Applications & Documents

Pre-Application Consultation Request @

Construction Schedule Extension @

Owner Authorization

Qualified Exempt Declaration @

Backup Generator Installation Guide

MOU Qualified Exempt Declaration @

Underground Tank Removal Application @

Project Impact Assessment Online Tool

Project Impact Assessment Guidelines

Project Impact Assessment Fact Sheet

Standard Conditions of Approval

Security Procedures (Attachment J)

Standard Conditions of Approval – Residential Driveway (Attachment P)

Standard Conditions of Approval – Grading (Attachment Q)

Standard Conditions of Approval – Residential Projects (Attachment R)

Standard Conditions of Approval – Shorezone Standards (Attachment S)

Standard Conditions of Approval – Underground Tank (Attachment U)

If you have any questions at any time about building, designing, or securing TRPA or county permits for your new home, please reach out at any time.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

How to Secure Permits to Build a Home in Lake Tahoe? (Part One)

If you have recently purchased land or a home in the Lake Tahoe basin and have plans to either build a home or do an extensive remodel, our team at Borelli Architecture based in Incline Village Lake Tahoe is here to help you move forward in planning for your future. Throughout the last 30 years, we have been working closely with the agencies and counties that fall within the Lake Tahoe Basin area and have strict policies that must be followed.

As a full-service architectural design firm, we certainly can assist in designing the home of your dreams. In addition, we have solid relationships with the individuals who review and approve the many permits that it takes to finalize a home in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and outlying Carson City and Truckee regions as well.

Below you will find a list from the TRPA website that will provide you with an overview of the various applications and forms that may be required to complete, submit, and receive approval before and during the permitting, home building and renovation processes.

Take a look at this list below.

Then, check back into our News section at Borelli Architecture at the end of this month to learn more about the permitting process to build or remodel a home within the High Sierra.

Single Family Dwelling Application @

Single Family Dwelling Findings

BMP Retrofit Permit Application @

BMP Small Retrofit Plan@

Driveway/Parking Area Paving Application @

Grading Project Application @

Land Coverage Exemptions for Residential Improvements

Backup Generator Installation Guide

Multi-Family Dwelling Application @

Multi-Family Dwelling Project Findings

Qualified Exempt Declaration @

Scenic Protection Information

Wood Heater Retrofit Statement Form @

Construction Schedule Extension @

Historic Resource Determination @

If you have any questions, at any time about building, designing, or securing permits for your new home, please reach out at any time.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Wildfire Home Preparedness Tips (Part Two)

Earlier this month we started to provide you with some of the best tips to prepare your home for fire season and keep it safe from embers and flames all year long. It was a popular post. So much so, our team at Borelli Architecture in Lake Tahoe and Incline Village decided to continue the theme on your behalf.

Before we dive in, we want to thank the professional educators at the University of Nevada Extension for providing this excellent information.

Vents

Embers are enemies of vents in homes that often lead to open spaces with your roofing or attic. Here are some tips to follow:

Avoid storing anything combustible in your attic re: cardboard boxes, leftover construction, newspapers
Inspect those vents before fire season; check the screens and seals
Consider replacing vents with ember-resistant options

Home Siding

As designers and architects of mountain homes in Lake Tahoe, Carson City, and the Truckee region, we always recommend only the safest and most secure materials for your home. This section outlines options siding.

First and foremost, it is NOT recommended to use fire-retardant coatings like fire-retardant paint. What you want to use is non-combustible products like stucco, steel and fiber cement siding options.

Our team at Borelli Architecture in Washoe County, we also recommend the use of a one-hour wall design with a fire-resistant zone.

Skylights

In as much as skylights offer natural light throughout the house, they can be the entry for embers and flames if the covers are not sealed well. If you want them designed into your home, we suggest the flat-style v/s domed design. Metal is the only choice in our minds as the plastic style will melt and burn upon contact.

Many skylights are designed to open to bring in the fresh Sierra air. If a wildfire comes unexpectedly, you might not have time to close them. Stay ahead and prepare those windows with 1/16 inch non-combustible corrosion-resistant-metal mesh screening.

Window

Now that we have addressed skylights, let’s take a look at windows. To reduce the vulnerability, look at these tips for the best options for fire-prone regions.

Chose multi-pane openings containing tempered glass
It does hurt to also invest in non-combustible shutters to provide extra protection.
Purchase windows that have screens as they serve as additional ‘guards’ for flying embers.

Fences

This is a pretty obvious one, yet we did not want to leave this section out of our tips to prevent a home from wildfire. If your fence is made of combustible material, replace it completely. Or at least replace the combustible section closest to the home with metal or non-combustible options.

And, as pretty as it is to have ivy or flowering vines growing on your fence, the experts at UNR Extension suggest that you opt not to do this.

We want to take this time to thank the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, College of Agriculture for proving this information to you. For more insight about how to prepare and keep your home safe from fire, visit www.unr.edu/avrs.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

Wildfire Home Preparedness Tips (Part One)

Every year our architecture firm in Lake Tahoe strives to share information about the (unfortunate) fire season in the High Sierra. To get you ahead of the curve, we have obtained some excellent information from the University of Nevada, Reno, that provides tips on what you can do around your home to help protect it from fires.

The tips include specific information on how to retrofit existing parts of your home to withstand fires if they happen to enter your neighborhood.

As you read on, remember this fact: In wildfire events, 60 – 90%of home loss is due to embers.

We encourage you to take the time to read our forthcoming News articles and share them with your neighbors as well.

The more you do to protect your home and its environment, the better the chances are of your home surviving a forest fire.

House Location

How and where your house is located makes a big difference as to how vulnerable your home may be.

Steep Slope or Forest Setting? When homes are located on steep slopes it is very common to have a few porches hanging over natural vegetation. Experts suggest you remove as many of the bushes as possible between your porch and back or front yard. The more space the better.

Forrest Setting? Same concept as above. We love our home in the mountains wrapped in the forest. Yet as much as it is a beautiful setting, it’s probably the most vulnerable spot one can live. Do your best to remove all low-hanging limbs and deciduous ‘duff’ in and around the tree wells.

Large Lot? When one has a good-sized lot or plenty of acreage, it is not uncommon to have a garden shed, large wood pile, and other structures that are susceptible to fire. Trim around these features and be sure that the wood pile is a good distance from the house.

Your Roof

There are three types of roofing.

Class A – Preferred: Made of asphalt fiberglass composition, shingles, clay and cementitious tiled, metal

Class B – Pressure impregnated fire-retardant treaded share or shingle

Class C – Recycled plastic, rubber, and aluminum

There are key things you can do to lower your home’s vulnerability to fire.

Replace it with Class A (unless that is on your home now)
Remove all debris – especially after the windy fall season (i.e. pine needles need to go!)
Clear your gutters
Install non-combustible and corrosion-resistant metal drip edging
Inspect open-eves areas for gaps where embers could land

And that is just the beginning. Keep watching our News section for additional tips to keep your home as fire-safe as possible during the summer, and year-round. The Sierra has been known to have an unexpected fire season in the winter months as well.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

The Value of Skilled Trade Workers

Over the past two years, the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region have experienced tremendous growth. Whether the increase in population has evolved over all the new resort developments or second homeowners choosing to make their vacation house a prominent home, the end result has impacted the construction business dramatically.

At our architecture firm in Lake Tahoe and Truckee, we are seeing lots of new trends; some are good, some not so good.

The good news is that there is more revenue streaming into our local business. Our hardware stores, lumber yards and concrete operations are running full steam ahead to keep pace with the demand. On the flip side, the lack of skilled trade workers is slowing down the pace, dramatically.

Thus the theme of our blog today ~ “The Value of Skilled Trade Worker”

Throughout the Reno/Lake Tahoe region, there are several colleges that offer an impressive list of classes and degrees for skilled trade. For those seeking a first-time career, or looking for a change of pace, maybe it’s time to register for some summer or fall classes now.

You can make a great living, and fulfill a huge need right here in the Tahoe basin and surrounding Reno and Carson City regions. The list is as impressive as the money that one makes when he or she is educated and certified in any of the trade skills noted below.

Electricians
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Backhoe and other construction equipment operators
Electrical repairmen
Riggers
Machinists
Tool and die makers
Welders
Carpenters
Forklift handlers, including large capacity forklifts
Tile and marble setters
Cement masons and finishers
Painters
Sheet metal workers
Structural iron and steelworkers
Plasterers
Crane and tower operators
Dump truck operators

The closest campus (which offers virtual classes, too) is Western Nevada College. Within their Class Schedule, you can find a wide variety of trade-oriented classes. In addition, if you prefer to work on your own, their list of business and marketing courses can complement your skills and services as a freelance trade specialist.

If you have more of a creative mindset, be sure to check out their classes in Drafting, Architecture, and Design. All of which are ideal if you would rather design a home than building one from the ground, up.

Our entire team at Borelli Architecture firm in Nevada encourages you to take a good look at the value of a trade skill. You can take it anywhere and put some money away to build your own home, too!

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

New Lake Tahoe “Land Tender” Monitors Forest Health, Future

Throughout the years, our architect firm at Lake Tahoe has enjoyed endless opportunities to enjoy our ‘down-time’ throughout the Basin and beyond. Some of our favorite memories are hiking, biking, and exploring the endless forests that wrap in and around the High Sierra. And within those years, we have learned to treasure every moment.

Fortunately for those of us who live, work, and play throughout the Sierra, there are many organizations watching over our ‘backyard’ with some of the world’s most innovative environmental technology.

Just last fall, the Tahoe Fund secured a grant from Smartest Forest Fund to purchase a new tool called Land Tender. It is a cloud-based planning and monitoring tool this is now assessing the health of our forests throughout the Lake’s 500-square-mile watershed basin. The details acquired through Land Tender can then predict the need and timing for improving our forests’ health.

Remote sensing, machine learning and artificial intelligence also enable land managers to continuously monitor project progress, and then shift priorities and resources based on evolving conditions and threats.

This new state-of-the-art tracking system is in collaboration with an exceptional list of partners that includes Basin land managers, fire districts, the California Tahoe Conservancy and other key personnel.

In a recent press release within TahoeFund.org, we learned more about this project.

“The Caldor Fire made it into the Lake Tahoe Basin, and we narrowly averted catastrophe in part because of proactive fire prevention and forest health projects,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “Land Tender is a unique tool that can help communities like ours dramatically speed up the timeline of critical forest management projects—some of which have previously taken up to 10 years to plan and execute. This is exactly the type of project we started our ‘Smartest Forest Fund’ to help accomplish.”

“We are facing concurrent climate, wildfire, biodiversity, water and health crises that cross jurisdictions and affect each and every one of us. Our future depends on how quickly we adapt, cooperate and take action. With Land Tender, we can harness the best science, technology and data to protect and restore forests. We can mitigate risk, quickly and at scale,” said Allison Wolff, CEO of Vibrant Planet, the creator of Land Tender.

Land Tender was the first innovation of Vibrant Planet. According to their website, their goal is to help planners and policymakers save lives, avoid trillions of dollars in infrastructure loss and restore the ability of natural systems to store carbo, deliver clean water, and support local economies and recreational habits.

Land Tender was designed with significant input from land managers, emergency responders, scientists, and local and regional policy and decision-makers. It was built by a team of seasoned technology, ecology and forest management leaders with decades of collective experience at the U.S. Forest Service, Lyft, Netflix, Guidewire, Facebook, and Omidyar Network.

In closing, it is reassuring to know that some of the world’s most educated and experienced experts in land management care enough about our region to push their collative talents to keep our treasured region healthy and thriving in years to come. And we thank them for their efforts.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

How to Make A Family Emergency Preparedness Plan

Over the past few years, the Lake Tahoe region has experienced some of the most devastating forest fires. With summer around the corner, our team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village researched ideas on what you can do in advance to prepare you, your home, and your family ahead of time.

Thanks to the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, there is a wealth of information online. Throughout our next few News articles, we are going to share some of their most valuable resources.

This first Edition comes from their Emergency Preparedness Brochure, General Emergency Preparedness section.

GET INFORMED & MAKE A FAMILY PLAN

In our area, we have the potential for disasters caused by earthquakes, wildland fires, and weather-related emergencies. Take time to plan for the problems related to each type of disaster.

If you have pets, make a pet plan. Animals may not be allowed inside emergency shelters due to health regulations.

Find out how to help elderly or disabled persons in your home or neighborhood.

Ask about disaster plans at your workplace, your children’s school or daycare center, and other places where your family spends time.

MAKE A FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN

Meet with household members — Explain the dangers to children and your emergency plans. Work with them as a team to prepare your family to deal with emergencies.

Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.

Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones.

Learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at your home.

Decide where to meet — In the event of an emergency, you may become
separated from family members. Choose a place right outside your home in case
of a sudden emergency, like a fire. Choose a location outside your neighborhood
in case you cannot return home.

Choose an “Out-of-Town” contact — Ask an out-of-town friend or relative to be
your contact in the event of a disaster. Everyone must know the contact’s phone
number. It is often easier to make a long-distance phone call than a local call from
a disaster area. Teach children how to make long-distance telephone calls.

Complete a family communications plan – Your plan should include contact
information for family members, work, and school.

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate very quickly. Be ready to get out fast. Be sure everyone in your family
knows the best escape routes out of your home as well as where the safe places are in your home for each type of disaster. Draw a Home Family Escape Plan with your family outlining two escape routes from each room.

Schools will soon be closing for the summer, which makes now an ideal time to set aside time to make your own family emergency plans. We encourage you to do so, soon, and wish you a safe and memorable summer to come.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060