Affordable housing wiped clean

Mammoth’s Mayor Matthew Lehman attended the Mono County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 14 with his developer hat on rather than his politician’s hat.

Lehman is the proponent of the proposed Rock Creek Ranch project in Paradise, and came before the Board to review his affordable housing agreement. Since the time that his tentative tract map was approved in 2009, the County has suspended its housing mitigation requirements in response to market changes that have increased affordable housing in the County and reduced the need for mitigation.

“The world has changed since your tract map was approved,” said Supervisor Hap Hazard. “I think we should waive all of it [housing mitigation].”

Supervisors Vikki Bauer and Byng Hunt agreed.

“Times have changed and the affordable housing demand is not as large because people can afford market rate,” Hunt said.

“I think it is good that government is getting out of the affordable housing business,” Bauer said. “I’m glad that you aren’t letting your project go into foreclosure like some others have.”

The Board approved the housing agreement with the waived mitigations 4-0. Supervisor Larry Johnston had to recuse himself because he owns a parcel that shares a water system connection with the project.