Gregory clarifies Lodestar remarks
Sheet: If Rob Mitchell gets his way and is able to convince the Town to accept his plan to build large single-family homes on the Lodestar site, are you really going to take your ball and go home (i.e. pull your support for air service and shut down Sierra Star Golf Course)?
Gregory: Air service and the golf course are key elements in the Town’s long-term vision. We’re subsidizing Sierra Star right now as a lure for investment. If we give up on transient lodging in Lodestar, we’re giving up on the long-term vision … If I’m operating at a loss (on the golf course) and taking the long view, my hope is that the Town takes the long view as well.
The Town worked long and hard to come up with a collective vision as expressed in our General Plan. Large single-family homes in this location is not the vision. Mitchell’s proposal is in conflict with the General Plan. The Lodestar Master Plan calls for a full-service resort development including a hotel and up to 700 transient lodging units. A loss of these 700 units means a potential loss of up to $3 million a year in future Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) collection for the Town, not to mention approximately 1,400 people spending money at various Town businesses.
Do we want to replace that vision with 12 homes on 1.5 acre lots? Don’t reverse course just because a developer comes up with an alternate plan to make himself some money.
If Mitchell wants to stick with the General Plan vision, we [MMSA] will do everything we can to help him.”
In other news, Gregory said Santa Barbara-based developer Will Gustafson has purchased the property across the street from the Village at Mammoth and plans to develop a time-share concept, partnering with Wyndham Resorts.
As for the Main Lodge land trade, Gregory said the land trade now has sponsorship by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and is currently in committee in the Senate.
Why not try to get 1400 more bears in here a day? They could graze and frolic on the golf course. We’d get a better quality of tourist in here…maybe even Russians who could arrive by air in our newly expanded airport.