By Deb Murphy
While the process still has red tape to unravel, the City of Bishop anticipates putting in a water line to the Bishop Veterinarian Hospital on North Sierra Highway as early as this spring, three years ahead of schedule.
Why is this news, and good news at that? The water line is key to future land releases by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The big caveat in any land release is LADWP’s requirement that the land be supplied with a domestic water source—in this case, the City of Bishop.
Public Works Director Dave Grah told the City Council at Monday’s meeting, “DWP is receptive.”
Work on the water line will require an easement from the department, Grah said. The plan is to combine the water line easement with the long-awaited bike path from See Vee Lane.
The City would pay the construction cost, Grah stated, with Bishop Vet paying to connect to the line. The hospital sits on the highway, the western edge of a 150-acre parcel that runs between See Vee Lane on the east, and Sierra Street on the west. The land is zoned residential.
“We’d like to get something in place so, if significant development happened in the area in the future, development would reimburse the City for its share of the construction costs,” Grah said.
The significance of the water line plan wasn’t lost on Councilmember Jim Ellis. “This could open the door” to future land releases, he said.
Thank You Nick for your comments. I am not aware of the specific acreage releases in Bishop. I was aware of the DWP 2008 auction event and the resulting issues of high minimum pricing and parcels not being sold. I will educate myself further on the subject and will share… Read more »
Well said and explained Nick, thank you. It seems to me three public needs – for a new county administrative building, for a new courthouse, and maintaining a vibrant downtown – could be met if a new building was constructed on the site of the existing courthouse and city office… Read more »
Along with squeezing the Owens Valley dry we all know that DWP exercises considerable power over our local government. Advancements achieved for local self determination have come mostly in the form of court orders and decisions. The Long Term Water Agreement one of those advancements in Section XV details the… Read more »
Philip, Land releases have been discussed and completed over the past 20 years. DWP was responsive in the past – the landfill issue wasn’t necessarily conflated with the releases in 1997 – but left the details (parcel selection) up to the County and City. I believe that the 26 acres… Read more »
Why would Bishop Vet pay for anything? Whats in it for them? We are not getting the full story here.
Good news. The new courthouse going up at the Y looks good.
Since this is DWP property the City of Bishop pays for the water lines then DWP sells lots for $$$$. It looks like Bishop and Inyo County are being one uped by DWP again.
A map of this land area would be helpful, the description you give with the streets as boundries is vague.
Isnt that nice of DWP? Sorry, but I don’t trust them and rightfully so ,in my opinion. What’s the catch?
What’s nice about it? DWP agreed to allow the City to buy an easement and install a water line to serve property owned by DWP…so that they can sell the land for a huge profit. I’m not sure what favor you think they’re doing.
Sugar, I was asking a question???? And being sarcastic. Be nice!
do i need to add a smiley face?