In the five years since it first debuted as The Clearwater, Old Mammoth Place has endured an architect change, a name change, the removal of a partner and seemingly endless criticism.

And after Town Council turned back an appeal of the use-permit and tentative tract map during a contentious four-hour appeal at its regular meeting Wednesday night, Demetriades and Carney finally emerged triumphant.

If it had denied a district zoning amendment modifying how height is measured for a building that sits on top of a parking podium within the already hotly debated Clearwater Specific Plan, then Old Mammoth Place, as proposed,  would have been dead in the water.
Instead, in what was the 57th (or so) meeting on the controversial project proposed by James Demetriades, council gave the developer a green light in a 3-1 vote, with Skip Harvey (critical of an additional 9.5 feet in the southeast corner of the hotel building) opposed and Jo Bacon recused.

Virtually all other mixed-used projects in Mammoth, including Juniper Springs and the North Village, include language governing how height is measured when a building sits on top of a parking podium.
“We are asking for nothing special. We just need some language that allows us to build this project above a parking garage,” Demetriades said.

Demetriades can now proceed with future grading and building permits.

Here we go again with another great day out here on the slopes!  The sun is shining, temperatures are warm, and the party isn’t stopping!  More snow is on the way for tomorrow and Wednesday that could bring 1 to 2 feet of new snow.

Snow conditions are excellent with a base depth of 9.5-14.5 feet! Bring your friends and come celebrate the spring at Main Lodge until July 4th as lift tickets are now only $69.

Today is the day you’ve all been waiting for! The Annual Spring Kick Off Party & Pond Skim is back at Mammoth! Come and join the crowds as they fill up Canyon Lodge to watch the craziest of our Mammoth guests straight line it on their skis/snowboards across the 110ft pond! This event also closes down Canyon Lodge for the rest of the season.  This is a great event for all ages.

Schedule:

• 11:00am: Pond Skim Registration (50 competitors max)
• 12:00pm: DJ Slip Matt kicks off the party!
• 2:00pm: Annual Pond Skim/ live music by “The Hallway Ballers”
• 4:00pm: Pond Skim Awards Ceremony
• 5-7pm: After Party featuring DJ Slip Matt

Important Update (04/01/10): The 2010 New Home Credit and First-Time Buyer Credit begins May 1, 2010.

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/New_Home_Credit.shtml

General Information: These tax credits are available for taxpayers who purchase a qualified principal residence on or after May 1, 2010, and before January 1, 2011. Additionally, these tax credits are available for taxpayers who purchase a qualified principal residence on or after December 31, 2010, and before August 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable contract executed on or before December 31, 2010.  The purchase date is defined as the date escrow closes.

These tax credits are limited to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000 for a qualified principal residence. Taxpayers must apply the total tax credit in equal amounts over 3 successive tax years (maximum of $3,333 per year) beginning with the tax year in which the home is purchased. The tax credits cannot reduce regular tax below tentative minimum tax (TMT). The tax credits are nonrefundable and unused credits cannot be carried over.

The total amount of allocated tax credit for all taxpayers may not exceed $100 million for the New Home Credit and $100 million for the First-Time Buyer Credit. However, since many taxpayers will not be able to utilize the entire tax credit, the legislation specifies that the $100 million cap for the New Home Credit will be reduced by 70 percent of the tax credit allocated to each buyer and the $100 million cap for the First-Time Buyer Credit will be reduced by 57 percent of the tax credit allocated to each buyer. We will allocate the tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Only one tax credit is allowed per taxpayer. If a taxpayer qualifies for both tax credits, the law specifies that we will allocate the amount under the New Home Credit.

Taxpayers will not be eligible for either tax credit if any of the following apply:

• The taxpayer was allowed a 2009 New Home Credit.
• The taxpayer is under 18 years old. (A taxpayer who is married as of the date of purchase will be considered to be 18 if the spouse/registered domestic partner (RDP) of the taxpayer is 18 or older on the date of purchase.)
• The taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse/RDP is related to the seller.
• The taxpayer qualifies as a dependent of any other taxpayer for the tax year of the purchase.