Mammoth Times Report

On August 9th, Jesse Langley and Kyle Ransford of Cardinal Investments made a second presentation regarding the 5.24 acre Sherwin parcel to the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission. Here is the pertinent excerpt from the Mammoth Times report (by Lara Kirkner, Aug. 17-23, 2006 edition, bold emphasis added by us) about the event:

The Sherwin Lands again

Jesse Langley and Kyle Ransford of Cardinal Investments brought updated information to the Commission regarding the Sherwin project, which is still in the pre-application process. Aug. 9 was the second workshop for the project planned for the 5.24-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Old Mammoth Road and Minaret Road.

Since the first workshop on April 19 the proposed project has been shown to neighbors surrounding the property in order to receive their feedback. One of the biggest problems with the project when it was first presented was the wall of three- to four-story buildings that it planned to create. The unit size and number, site configuration and building orientation of the project drove the long wall, according to the Town's Advisory Design Panel (ADP).

With 45 percent of the site being planned for a conservation easement, plus the need for setbacks from Mammoth Creek, Langley and Ransford stated they are looking at a challenging location with a buildable area of 35 percent once all is said and done. According to the two men, they could balance the setbacks on the site by going higher with the structures. Instead of three to four story buildings, they are now opting for seven- to eight-story buildings, which, while breaking up the wall effect they had at first, would make the height of the buildings between 75 to 85 feet. A maximum height of 45 feet with a parking inducement is allowed at the site.

Bill Fishbeck, speaking on behalf of the homeowners surrounding the project site, stated that the project looks like a prime example of the tail wagging the dog. According to Fishbeck, the site is zoned for condominiums, not condo-hotel as the applicants are designing it.

"Sixty-three units are allowed under the condo zoning, which would put the project at 95,000 square feet," Fishbeck said. "The applicant is proposing 93 condo-hotel units," which would put the project at over 100,000 square feet. Basically the applicants are putting twice the mass on half the lot compared to half the density on the entire lot, he added.

"Now is the time to let developers know what you want and that this is not acceptable," Fishbeck said.

Again, the plans are still in study session mode. Dr. Anthony Nagy pointed out that the type of height being proposed may not even be feasible and stated that a group called Test America was actually drilling at the site to test the water levels in order to make sure that the ground could handle the mass of the project.

Note that Cardinal Investments wants to build a seven- to eight-story hotel with bar and restaurant, which would be utterly out of character for this part of Mammoth Lakes. This area instead is composed almost solely of condominiums.