Mammoth briefs

PEDC Loves the Place

Mammoth’s Planning and Economic Development Commission (PEDC) discussed a proposed amendment to the roughly $204 million Old Mammoth Place project on Thursday, July 30. By and large, in spite of proposed height variances from 10 to 30 feet, PEDC Commissioners were supportive of changes to the project.

The PEDC approved the original Old Mammoth Place project in 2010. The project would replace the existing Sierra Nevada Resort, Rafters, and Red Lantern/Jimmy’s Taverna on the property between Old Mammoth Road and Laurel Mountain Road with up to 488 hotel rooms, outdoor public plazas, a pool, ice rink, restaurant, commercial/retail space, conference space, spa and wellness space, and a underground parking structure.

As proposed in 2010, building heights would vary from 35-55 feet. The new proposal would increase building heights along Laurel Mountain Road and Old Mammoth Road, and would increase a portion of the building on the interior of the site to six floors. There the project would be 65 feet in height, 10 feet above the maximum height allowed in the north Old Mammoth area.

The new proposal would also increase the footprint of the building and eliminate eight on-site workforce housing units, which are no longer required by the Town’s Housing Ordinance.

Tom Moody, speaking on behalf of Sierra Park Villas, commended the change in design from an “urban mountain” aesthetic of glass and cement, to more stone and wood. However, he said he and others are concerned about the increased height.

“We’re the neighbors across the road, and we’re at 35 feet,” he said.

Meanwhile Pat Eckart of Mountain Shadows said the area around the project is currently residential. “The project looks like a city,” she said. “… The ‘village in the trees’ will be gone for us.”

But project architect John Ashworth said the 65 foot height won’t be visible from the street (Snarky editorial comment: Neither was the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk), and that the majority of the project’s buildings will still be of similar height to the surrounding complexes at 45 feet.

PEDC Commissioner Elizabeth Tenney was supportive. “This is the first big project to come before us since the recession,” she said. “… This particular project is second only to the Village in terms of importance.”

While Tenney worried about the larger building footprint and what it might mean for the design of entrances to the public spaces within the project, she and the Commission offered no other concerns regarding the proposed amendments.

The full amendment process could take six to 16 months. After that, applicant Jim Demetriades must submit construction permits. Optimistically, according to former Senior Planner Jen Daugherty, the very earliest construction on the Old Mammoth Place project could start in Fall of 2016.

 

M.U.F. Diving 

While Town Council voted on July 1 not to pursue a new lease with Mammoth Unified School District (MUSD) for the current Multi-Use Facility (MUF) property, Council also did not agree upon a new preferred home for MUF.

At the time, Council agreed to wait to decide where to move the MUF—whether to Mammoth Creek Park West or East—pending the completion of a Mammoth Lakes Recreation (MLR) strategy process in January or February of 2016.

Members of Town Council, the Recreation Commission, and MLR convened on July 28 to begin discussing preferred locations for the MUF, as well as the potential for a temporary shade structure at the current site, to satisfy the desire for a longer skating season.

The same group will continue meeting each week (these are staff meetings not open to the public) “to continue the Multi-Use Facility discussion,” said Public Works Director Grady Dutton.

The aim is to move the MUF, or construct a new one, by October, 2017.

Recreation Commission Vice Chair Teri Stehlik was in favor of pursuing a temporary shade structure while the conversation about possible locations continues.

“I think it’s a great idea,” she said. “I would rather not have to rush into the project [relocating the MUF] because we don’t have shade.”

Commission Chair Betsy Truax was more cautious in her support, arguing that she would prefer to invest in a temporary shade structure that could help both winter and summer activities at the MUF.

Recreation Manager Stu Brown said the focus group composed of members from Town Council, Recreation Commission, and MLR will bring back monthly reports to the Recreation Commission and MLR.

“We’re going to try to keep this on task and keep the momentum,” he said.