Mammoth Track gets scoped

On Wednesday, Aug. 11, the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission met to discuss the scope of the initial CEQA study for the Whitmore Track Project. It was a chance for the Commission to give feedback on what its members believe should be included in the study’s scope.

The Town of Mammoth Lakes is working as the lead agency on the project, according to Associate Planner Jen Daugherty. They are partners with the High Sierra Striders, Mammoth’s local running club that got the track project going in the first place. Currently the Town, Striders, and the Department of Water and Power are sorting out the language for the lease to the piece of land on Benton Crossing Road currently designated at the location of the future track. A use permit was submitted to Mono County at the end of July since the project also falls under county jurisdiction.

The comment period for the initial scoping is open until Aug. 13. There will be other opportunities to comment as the project progresses. Friday’s deadline is just for feedback on what should be included in the scope. As of Wednesday, the Town had received comments from Caltrans as well as SNARL (Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory).

Daugherty explained that SNARL was concerned with the potential glare from the stadium lighting being proposed for the project. The Commission also had concerns regarding this lighting and Commissioner Elizabeth Tenney suggested that other lighting being looked at in the initial study.

Elaine Smith, who was present at the meeting and represented the High Sierra Striders explained that the lighting was needed for events that would most likely run into the evening. She also explained that as the Eastern Sierra gets deeper into the fall season, it gets dark earlier, so people who would want to the use the facility after work would need some light.

Nonetheless, the Commission asked that lighting be studied.