CBIZ, blood, boutiques, and mistakes

Cbizquick

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Old Mammoth Place  (OMP) Tentative Map and Use-Permit applications. As Planning Commissioners you are charged with the difficult task of weighing proposed community benefits in exchange for density, fees and workforce housing through the Community Benefits/Incentive Zoning (CBIZ) policy. Old Mammoth Place is the first project to apply CBIZ policy and will set a precedent for future development.

Within CBIZ, when density is used as the incentive, the incentive or bonus units are not required to provide housing mitigation. As the workforce housing advocacy group, Mammoth Lakes Housing is concerned about the current and long-term implications of the CBIZ policy on workforce housing supply. MLH requested that Town staff include an analysis of the proposed waived housing mitigation on the incentive units at Old Mammoth Place within the analysis of the CBIZ policy so that the Commission and community can have a complete picture of what utilizing the CBIZ policy means to the housing supply for Mammoth’s working citizens. As a result, Town staff included this data in their report.

Outlined in the table above are the workforce housing requirements for Old Mammoth Place at base density of 40 units per acre, with the CBIZ density bonus at 80 units per acre, total generation, OMP proposed housing, and the proposed waived housing mitigation.  This information illustrates the application of CBIZ and the effects on housing mitigation. The Old Mammoth Place Use Permit application was submitted prior to the November 2009 adoption of the Interim Inclusionary Housing policy; therefore, the application provides housing calculations based on Town Municipal Code Section 17.36. Additionally, the table outlines the housing mitigation requirements using the Interim Inclusionary policy as well as the payment of an in-lieu fee through an Alternative Housing Mitigation Plan (AHMP), as proposed in the Conditions of Approval for the project. Approval of an AHMP would require review by MLH and discretionary approval by the Planning Commission.

Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc. (MLH) recognizes that the community has many needs which may be delivered through new development and the CBIZ policy was developed as a means of providing those community benefits. MLH’s focus is providing and advocating for housing that best meets the needs of those working within our community; therefore, we ask that the Commission require the construction on site of the full 27 units of workforce housing required by code in effect at the time of application. Housing local families and individuals continues to be a huge need within our community and is essential infrastructure to meet the overall goals and sustainability of the community.

Thank you for your careful consideration of the precedence this application creates for trading community housing in exchange for proposed community benefits.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors
Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc.

Spitting up blood

Dear Editor:

In last week’s Sheet, Dana Severy was quoted as saying, “The built environment is as bad as it gets. I spit up blood when I have to travel up Main St. or Old Mammoth Rd.”

Well, that’s a funny coincidence – I feel the same way when I drive by the Village.

“It was symbolic of their attitude toward the community. It was kind of a brash, condescending attitude that developed over the last couple of years. It was an insensitive action …”  That quote comes from an article in the San Diego Union about how a big developer came to Borrego Springs with big promises and left the town in a wreck after making millions. Sound familiar?

These carpetbaggers will say anything to sell over development. Their idea of a perfect Mammoth Lakes would be a 4 square mile empty lot with no Planning Commission or Town Council. They continually promise “Benefit to the Community” and “Sustainable Economy” and what we get is crap while they get rich!

I have a suggestion for Mr. Severy and all those like him who unfortunately, “…spit up blood…”  at the sight of the “…same old s%$# that was here in the ‘80’s…” Save yourself!  Go live in Carson City or Norco where the bland, soulless, over developed, anonymous wasteland is specially designed to put you in a numb brain coma and ease your terrible pain.

Alternatively, you could grab a hot dog and chew it on the way to ex-Gov. Shwartsinwhatshisnamer’s bat cave.  I hear he has a new “Dogs Playing Poker” print that is really funny.  You would enjoy it.

Note to Mr. Demetriades: call off your attack dogs and build whatever you are going to build to conform exactly to the specifications in the General Plan and show us how much you really care about Mammoth.

Ken  Warner
Mammoth Lakes

Town’s future: boutique hotels

Dear Editor:

This is what we need to have as the hot topic in the upcoming election. I have spoken with a very high level executive within the Hotel industry who works on long term strategies for the industry and the future is in Boutique Hotels that is what they are looking at for their long term strategy.

Why we need to build boutique hotels instead of condos in Mammoth Lakes:

The biggest reason and obvious reason is HOT BEDS to generate more TOT, TOT, TOT.

Lower density required and lower heights needed.

Giving our guest more CHOICES!

Creating a true resort environment in town along Old Mammoth Road and Main Street.

Types of Boutique Hotels that can be created that can be filled in the SUMMER: Mountain climbing, Sierra Club, Fly Fishing, Cycling- Road Bikes and Mountain Bikes, Eco-trekking and Geo-trekking

These are just a few that can provide a full service experience for our guest.

Warren Harrell
Seal Beach/Mammoth Lakes

Oops!

Dear Editor:

I am writing to clarify a few points from last week’s story in “The Sheet” entitled “Parents seek Solorio for H.S. Post.’

First of all, the meeting held on Feb. 24 at Mammoth High School was a meeting organized by interim Superintendent Rich McAteer for parents and community members to discuss their views and opinions on potential candidates for a new Mammoth High School principal, not about what they want in a superintendent. Pat Rogan, our interim Mammoth Elementary School principal, facilitated the meeting, as Mr. McAteer was on vacation the day that he scheduled the meeting.

Second, the questionnaire that was handed out was not a ‘wish list’ for qualities of a superintendent, but of a high school principal to replace Mike Agnitch, who has given notice of his retirement at the end of this school year.

Finally, when you quoted me at the end of the article, MHS should have read MMS. I am sure this was a typo, but the difference changes the entire meaning of my statements. My point was that Gabe Solorio has done such an outstanding job with Mammoth Middle School that whoever replaced him, should our community be fortunate enough to have Gabe lead our high school, would have an already well run and successful middle school to manage.

Sherine Sanders
Mammoth Lakes

Ed. Note: The “wish list” reference was in fact a typo. Instead of superintendent it should have read “principal.” Ergo, yes, that one error would pretty much obscure the overall purpose of the meeting.

Speaking of corrections from last week, that article on Win Lee Lewis which appeared on the front page was not written by Lunch, but rather, by Mike McKenna. But then, anyone who’s read The Sheet for the past six years shouldn’t have to rely on a byline to spot a McKenna story. His award-winning style is unique.