Letters to the Editor
In defense of MUF move
Dear Editor:
It is entirely inaccurate to say that the Council failed in its most basic of duties, not “listening to the people they represent,” as asserted in a letter to the Editor (Sheet 10/24). Elsewhere it has also been written that the public is overwhelmingly opposed to relocating the Ice Rink to MCPW, which is also inaccurate and untrue.
The La Vista Blanc homeowners are overwhelmingly opposed to a multi-use facility at MCPW. The homeowners association, though, doesn’t represent the voice of the people, that is, the community at large. Because Council voted contrary to the wishes of this very vocal constituency, that doesn’t mean they weren’t “listening to the people.”
Quite to the contrary, Town Council did not push anything through on its own accord; Council was listening to, and acting upon, voluminous reports, proposals, plans and directives, as well as the opinions expressed by many, many people and entities all supporting the development of Mammoth Creek Park West.
“Plan Your Parks” was a months long process that involved participation by hundreds of people from all walks of life and all constituencies in Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes Recreation was created specifically for this purpose, to evaluate and develop significant recreation opportunities here in Mammoth. The Mammoth Lakes Recreation Commission consists of five dedicated residents and members of our community. The Multi-Use Facility Task Force combined different people and organizations. Members of the Planning Department also live here in Mammoth Lakes, working hard to do the best they can for us. All of these people and organizations support the development of MCPW, including the construction of a multi-use facility at that location.
Lost in this debate was any mention of RECSTRATS I & II and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. A multi-use facility at Mammoth Creek Park West is entirely consistent with the reports, conclusions and recommendations of RECSTRATS and the Master Plan. As with Plan Your Parks, RECSTRATS also involved widespread community participation and input.
Councilwoman Bacon referred to the Town of Mammoth Lakes Master Plan, stating that a multi-use facility at MCPW was consistent with that plan. The Town’s Master Plan was also created with enormous and widespread input from the residents and business owners of Mammoth Lakes.
Town Council did in fact listen to the community, following directives that were built upon broad based, diverse community analysis and input.
If the La Vista Blanc homeowners could only look beyond the potential negative impacts, which are as yet unrealized and can be mitigated (Councilman Wentworth specifically pledged to work together), they may see enormous benefits for not only the whole community, but for their own properties as well.
Dan O’Connell
Mammoth Lakes
It would be great for everyone on all sides to stop hiding behind this fancy name of a “Multi-Use Facility’ and call it what it really is. It is an ‘Outdoor Hockey Rink’. The residents of La Vista Blanc are not opposed to developing MCPW into more of a community park used parcel, however they, along with the other 3 neighboring HOA’s, are very opposed to placing a ‘Outdoor Hockey Rink’ right next to the the existing residential condos (within 40 feet!) as current plans are designed. The MCPW is roughly a 2.5 acre lot and current designers have placed the rink location as close as possible to the condos. In fact, residents of La Vista Blanc have recommended to use MCPW as a potential site for the outdoor hockey rink, however to place the rink closer to Old Mammoth Road to mitigate the noise pollution that is inherent with the operations of an Outdoor Hockey Rink. Aside from Nascar, one of the noisiest sport types is Hockey and the noise pollution that will come from the Outdoor Rink during the hours of 7am to 10pm doesn’t have to be realized, as it has already been proven at outdoor hockey rinks across the world. Hockey pucks shot from a 9 year old boy hitting the glass sound like a gun shot, not to mention pucks hitting the boards, referee whistles, coaches yelling, music, skates and sticks banging, etc…and that is just hockey games where activities are controlled. To run a profitable hockey rink you must leverage the ice at all operational hours which includes stick times, coaching lessons, open skates, and ice skating all which can include music and hundreds of pucks hitting the boards and glass in an hour. And let’s not forget the noise from the chillers and zamboni’s which maintain the ice, which have inconveniently been designed to be housed right buttoned up to the LaVista Blanc Condos which would create non-stop noise at all hours of the day. To be clear, the residents of the LaVista Blanc and the neighboring 3 HOA’s are not against improving hockey operations in Mammoth – The desire is to put the rink in a location where there the noise will not be such an impact to nearby residents and where a new outdoor hockey rink can be positively embraced and utilized as necessary to stay profitable. We want this rink to be successful for Mammoth Hockey and for the Town of Mammoth!
Sincerely, Damon Frank