By Deb Murphy
Now that the Town of Mammoth Lakes’ purchase of Shady Rest is official, what are the next steps to develop the 25-acre parcel for affordable housing?
That was the question on the Town Council’s agenda, right after they had to reject bids for the Multi-Use Facility. The MUF started in controversy from neighboring condo owners and ended with bids twice what staff had estimated.
Mayor John Wentworth asked staff to come back “and tell us what went wrong.” Then the Council had to go to the next item—another, more vital but equally ambitious project.
The end game is a development of 172, or more, affordable housing units. The first steps presented by Public Works Director Grady Dutton: start on the preliminary work—getting the lay of the land on paper—and coming up with a name, other than Shady Rest.
Town Manager Dan Holler explained there is funding set aside to identify adjacent land uses, wetlands review, boundaries and topographic mapping, site conditions and the removal of hazardous trees. The Council agreed.
Compilation of the information leads into a scope that can be used for environmental review, Holler explained in an e-mail. The timing for actual development is undefined, he stated. “The overall goal is to move quickly and have the initial work commencing on at least the first phase within three years.”
The Council had a tougher time coming up with a name to avoid confusion with Shady Rest Park. Dutton’s suggestion, not necessarily the final name, was Muir Village. That did not go over well.
Council member Cleland Hoff thought people would be confused about the spelling, probably those folks who’ve never heard of the John Muir Trail or the John Muir Wilderness. Shields Richardson suggested “The Parcel.” Colin Fernie remarked the name was not a “hill to die on.” That turned into a name suggestion. Wentworth tried for “Community Parcel,” but Richardson’s simple approach won out.
The Council did agree any final name would involve community input.
Did anyone on the council mention the additional burden placed on the Mammoth water supply along with sewage waste? Have been to Mammoth during prime tourist season and the smell from the sewage plant is overwhelming as one enters town. Seems to be more important issues than having the council… Read more »
I’ve never smelled a sewage smell ever… Has anybody else? And if we are that short of water, then we need to stop all outdoor watering, golf courses included. Homes in Mammoth don’t have yards… Simply using water for personal use isn’t that great, compared to outdoor uses. Like it… Read more »
Each person per household uses 80-100 gallons per day. You do the math on 172 planned units.
Our sewage system handles 25,000 visitors plus 8,000 residents, but another 172 apartments is going to be a problem? Maybe you should ask MCWD what they think.
Can someone refresh my memory as to what the Town paid for this parcel? And, how is obtaining a parcel that was zoned for affordable housing ONLY, taking it out of private hands, going to accelerate development? The Town is going to enter into a development deal with a developer?… Read more »
Diaper Forest
How about Shady Diapers…
You win!
East Ghetto
New Ghetto
New Jamaica
Fantasyland
We better get a 24/7 MLPD presence, don’t think for a second we won’t need it, we need it now.
Getto central
Shady Acres