HOUSING GOES PUBLIC
Published in the June 13, 2026 issue.
As Mono County weighs whether to build housing on a small parcel overlooking Lee Vining‘s sewage ponds, supervisors unanimously approved a policy change that could make such projects easier to approve.
On Tuesday, the Mono County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution declaring housing development a permitted use on county-owned land designated for Public and Quasi-Public Facilities (PF).
The proposal comes as the county explores development of a roughly one-acre parcel adjacent to the Lee Vining Community Center, which is the only county-owned vacant parcel in town and the subject of recent community discussions about affordable and workforce housing.
Under the county‘s General Plan, PF-designated land allows certain uses outright, “including other uses permitted by the public landowner.” County counsel argued that housing development should fall within that category.
“It streamlines the process, and we know housing is a big priority for Mono County,” said Deputy County Counsel Jeff Hughes. “And because it’s going to be developed internally, working with community development, we will basically be going through that permitting process anyways.”
If adopted, the resolution would eliminate the need for future housing projects on PF-designated county land to obtain a Use Permit, removing one layer of discretionary review. Other requirements, including environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), would still apply.
For background, in February, Lee Vining residents gathered at the Mono Basin Regional Planning Advisory Committee meeting to discuss what might be built on the county-owned parcel adjacent to the community center.
Development consultant Shellen Rodriguez of SMR Development presented a yield study showing the site could accommodate up to 14 units under existing standards, or as many as 25 units with density bonuses.
Potential concepts ranged from manufactured homes to townhomes, though no decisions have been made yet regarding housing type, ownership structure, amenities, or project design.
Residents raised questions about everything from childcare needs and parking to views and odors from the nearby sewage ponds, but largely supported the idea of a housing development on the parcel.
County officials ultimately agreed to survey residents and return with a more detailed proposal.
The latest resolution does not approve any specific housing project. Instead, it establishes housing as an allowed use on county-owned PF land, potentially smoothing the path for future developments such as the Lee Vining proposal.
