Updates
Victory!!
Shoreline subdivision saga at an end
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Mono Lake supporters and the Mono Lake Committee raised substantial legal and ecological concerns about the subdivision concept, making it clear that there would be tremendous public and legal opposition to the project and advocating a land trade as the solution to this issue. All Mono Lake friends should take a moment to celebrate the success that we’ve won here. Standing united, we’ve once again proved that a group of dedicated people can change the future by speaking from our hearts on behalf of Mono Lake!
The transaction marks the end to a five-year saga in which a 30-unit resort home subdivision proposed by the owners threatened to damage the unique ecological resources of Mono Lake, forever change the rural feel of the west shore, and undermine the integrity of the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area.
Details are still coming in, but it appears that the
parcel now owned by MMSA includes all original property portions west of
Highway 395, including the existing structures and virtually all of the
proposed subdivision sites. Recognizing the critical importance of this
property, MMSA paid a premium for the property—and spent untold hours in
lengthy negotiations.
This is the second time MMSA has taken ownership of the property. However
this time there are no options or buyback clauses that would allow the
Cunninghams to regain ownership in the future.
Mono Lake supporters familiar with this issue will note that 10% of the property remains under the ownership of the Cunninghams. This sliver of land is located east of Highway 395, between the highway and the boundary of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. The Cunninghams’ goals for the land are unclear but rumor has it that they may seek to pursue a shaky claim of ownership to State Reserve lands.
Spring 2007
Winter 2007
Summer 2005
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Land Subdivision at Mono No Longer a Threat: Cunningham Property Sold for Protection Purposes; Land Will Be Traded To US Forest Service
Mono Lake Newsletter
March 2005
Mammoth Mountain buys property: Immediate development threat removed!
January 2005
Disputes about the value of the land continue to be the main stumbling
block to a successful land trade. In December 2004, the Forest Service
offered to go to court jointly with the property owner to seek an
independent, third-party valuation of the property—as a means of
reconciling the large discrepancy in land value. The property owner has
indicated that he will not take the Forest Service up on
that offer.
The application with Mono County to subdivide and develop the property has yet to be completed and submitted to the Mono County Planning Department—a completed application would trigger the beginning of the environmental (CEQA) process. Meanwhile, discussions continue between the Forest Service, the property owner, and private entities, in order to trade the property into public ownership.
For more additional information about this issue please refer to Winter/Spring 2005 Mono Lake Newsletter: Land Trade Still the Best Option to Stop Lakeside Subdivision.
November 2004
Protections at Mono Lake in Jeopardy!
Mono
Lake, a wildlife oasis and model of win-win environmental solutions, is
facing an attack on the 20-year-old Congressional protection of its
surrounding lands. The threat comes from an out of the area developer, New
Cities Land Company, that is preparing to move forward with a proposal to
subdivide 120 acres of land for resort-style homes—in direct violation of
the laws protecting the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area.
Click here to write a letter!
Summer 2004
Land Trade
is Best Hope for Mono Lake Property: Committee Letter Outlines Legal
Difficulties of the Development Option
Mono Lake Newsletter
Spring 2004
New Opportunity for
Stalled Land Trade:
Forest Service Action Needed
Mono Lake Newsletter
Winter 2004
Cunningham Property
Subdivision Update
Mono Lake Newsletter
Fall 2003
Committee Calls for Land
Trade to Protect Mono, Benefit Local Hospital: Resort Subdivision
Threatens Mono Lake
Mono Lake Newsletter
August 2003
Mono Lake Committee Responds to Subdivision Proposal in Local Paper
The August 28 real estate section of the local Mammoth Times newspaper
carried a lead story about a 24-unit subdivision planned at the west edge
of Mono Lake. While the "La Ventana" subdivision was extremely well
presented, it does not actually exist, and the Committee has received many
calls of concern about the project. Click here to
read the Mono Lake Committee's letter to the editor in response to the
article.
August 12, 2003
Mono County Passes Resolution R03-059
Urging a Swift and Fair Land Exchange
Summer 2003
Scenic Area Land
Exchange Faces Final Hurdle: Subdivision and Sprawl Are the Alternative
Mono Lake Newsletter
June 27, 2003
USFS Official Determination of
Incompatibility
Fall 2002
West Shore Property Up For
Sale: Signs Mark Historic Opportunity for Forest Service
Mono Lake Newsletter
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