June Lake discusses Main Street revitalization

The June Lake Citizen’s Advisory Committee held a community workshop, led by Mono County Community Development Department staff, to discuss Main Street revitalization ideas on Tuesday, November 18. Over 30 people attended.

The workshop intended to specifically focus on the commercial core of June Lake, i.e. the Village along Main Street, considering the buildings, streetscapes and street design of the area. Community Development Analyst Wendy Sugimura emphasized that the workshop wasn’t intended to “reinvent the wheel” but rather “empower the community to take ownership” of the design ideas that might enhance tourism and boost the economy of the small alpine village.

“Nobody has to change anything,” Sugimura assured the crowd. “Anything that happens will be voluntary. We just want to know what the right ideas are.”

Associate Planner Courtney Weiche presented a design idea book generated by Berkley-based company Opticos Design. Opticos Design generated the book after a visit to Mono County last July. The June Lake workshop during that time only drew a handful of business owners.

“We didn’t have the turnout at the last meeting to really gain feedback,” Weiche said. “The idea book illustrates the possibilities in June Lake so [the community] can build on their assets and achieve its full potential.”

Mono County is currently applying for a National Scenic Byway designation, and the idea book is a requirement for the application packet.

The Opticos report described the “iconic characteristics” of June Lake as  “quaint, charming, Nordic, and a hidden gem with recreational and scenic value.” The report encouraged the town to capitalize on the Swiss Chalet architecture, hillside development, wood-carved business signs, and “gateway” opportunities at Oh Ridge and the balancing boulders.

The meeting was then open to discussion from the public and eventually a list of community priorities developed mostly focused away from Main Street as the organizers had intended.

Workshop attendees agreed with Double Eagle Resort and Spa owner Ralph Lockhart’s suggestion to build a paved bike path connecting the junction of Highway 395 to Oh Ridge, and from Oh Ridge to June Lake Village, June Mountain, and Down Canyon.

Don Morton of June Lake Accommodations suggested creating a “broader business district” by utilizing houses off of Main Street for small businesses, similar to what June Lake Brewery has done. And many people liked the idea of using Mono County financing for a Community Center beautification project, making it more of a hub. Business beautification was also a popular idea, but depends on the business owners themselves, as there are no County funds available for the private sector.

Residents expressed interest in creating picturesque turnouts with interpretative signs at Oh Ridge and the balancing boulders. And there was talk about creating a Visitor Center and Museum, along with a permanent events venue.

One of the most popular ideas of the night was a gateway sign on Highway 395 intended to alert people to the presence of June Lake just a few miles up the road. “It’s desert landscape out there and no one knows the alpine beauty we have back here,” Lockhart said.

The new owners of the Villager Motel agreed, saying they never knew about June until recently, having visited Mammoth Lakes for years. Alice Susyniski, the community ringleader attempting to build a gateway monument, said they have made some progress with Caltrans and encouraged people to get more involved.

Although the gateway monument idea received positive feedback at the Tuesday meeting, Sugimura said she has heard “some disagreement” about the idea in the community. “I don’t know where the rub lays,” she said. “There’s agreement that June Lake could have a better presence on Hwy 395 but what does that mean? Does it mean a gateway sign?”

Sugimura was encouraged by the turnout on Tuesday, but said there’s still more community discussion needed before any definitive priorities are established, and that projects may progress—or not-—based on the opportunities available at the time.

“The meeting was a good starting point,” she said, “but it’s only a representation of a certain cross section of the people. There will be more steps and more outreach. We have to do our best to vet [the idea book] well.”