Bulletin #11

Letter to Members No. 11

STANFORD LAW SCHOOL AGREES TO REPRESENT THE JUNE LAKE ADVOCATES

One major goal of the JLA was to obtain competent counsel to advise our organization as to the propriety of the Rodeo Grounds development by Intrawest. We are pleased to announce that the Environmental Law Clinic of the Stanford Law School has taken the JLA as a client and will represent our interests. They have been sent relevant documentation regarding the project. It is important to note that this will benefit June Lake residents/property owners by insuring that the development process proceeds properly. We will meet with them shortly to develop an overall operating strategy. In conjunction with the Law Clinic, we are also in discussion with a law firm specializing in the initiative and referendum process.

We welcome Stanford Law School as part of the JLA team.

MAMMOTH TIMES CLAIMS HEIGHT LIMIT ISSUE WIN FOR JUNE LAKE CITIZENS

Mammoth Times Staff Writer Wendilyn Grassechi wrote in the October 21-27, 2004 issue that "since the project [Intrawest's Rodeo Grounds development]...has the potential to seriously impact the tiny community, citizen interest and involvement in the planning process has been extremely high, with June residents literally looking over Intrawest's shoulders at every stage of the game. Their effort is paying off. As of this past week…the citizens of June Lake won a hard-fought attempt to keep the project's proposed height limits within the specifications of June Lake's specific plan."

In a related article she writes "the group [the JLA] has already had an impact on at least one June Lake development proposal, recently helping to convince Intrawest to withdraw an increased height amendment to the June Lake Specific Plan [here and above, the reference is to the June Lake Area Plan; the Specific Plan is Intrawest's proposal].…"

It remains to be seen whether this is a real victory, or a contrived concession by Intrawest having the objective of making a 60 foot height limit, allowed under certain conditions by a Mono County Zoning and Development Code provision, more palatable to the local community. While we are encouraged by Intrawest's downsizing, in keeping with members' wishes we will continue to fight for the 35 foot height limit.


JLA JOINS CALTRANS ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM

In its effort to increase public exposure, the JLA was successful in obtaining a section of the June Lake Loop under the Caltrans Adopt-a-Highway Program. Our signs will read "JuneLakeAdvocates.org; Preserving the Loop". The two-mile stretch extends south on Highway 158 from its north junction with US 395. We will be calling for volunteers to clean the highway after the snow melts.