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Courthouse to define future gateway to town |
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Friday, 20 February 2009 |
Critics say design is “Santa Monica, not Mammoth”
By Catherine Billey
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
With its new commissioner, Sharon Clark, in place, the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission focused almost exclusively on the Mammoth Lakes Courthouse design review during its Feb. 11 regular meeting.
The courthouse site on Hwy. 203 near Sierra Park Road, part of the future Civic Center, was acquired through a land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service in November 2007.
Because a courthouse is a state building, town approval is not required except for site grading and public improvements.
However, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) agreed to conform to Mammoth’s design guidelines and specific standards for the civic center site.
The planning commission is charged with ensuring that the design submitted by the AOC (revised in January 2009 with input from an Advisory Design Panel) also meets the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
While most agreed the project is “fantastic” and will stimulate local development and employment if construction begins early next year as planned, naysayers argued that the current design doesn’t look like anything else in town.
“And that’s not a good thing. That’s a bad thing,” said local architect Bruce Woodward. “I think it’s the way they’re using materials. Here, things are bold and strong. This is pristine.”
It won’t hold up to the elements or look pristine in 10 years, he said, suggesting the AOC incorporate more rugged elements into their design.
“This is Santa Monica, not Mammoth,” agreed local developer John Vereuck.
Integrate rugged elements,
create gateway into town
The commission agreed with Woodward, as did Community Development Director Mark Wardlaw. They reached consensus that the AOC work with town design staff to incorporate more rugged elements consistent with Mammoth’s architecture.
The commission pointed to two examples of desirable architecture for Mammoth – the gondola building and the Mountain Center in the Village.
In addition, it must make more of a statement coming into town that not only reinforces its civic function, but is an attractive, welcoming and symbolic center for the community.
“This turns out to be our gateway project,” Commissioner Rhonda Duggan said.
The AOC designers faced numerous constraints, however. The future police station has already been approved by the planning commission and is therefore fixed in stone; the AOC architects had to work around that.
Another constraint is security issues. Judges’ chambers, for example, cannot face the street. Eventually, a jail will be located on the site, so transportation of prisoners to and from the location was evaluated.
Creating accessibility
Mark Cavagnero, architect for the court, said they sought to create something accessible and friendly that maintains a small town feeling and highlights “the stunning qualities” of Mammoth in a continuous greenscape of pine trees.
At the same time, he said, as a state project they must comply with the very specific programming requirements dictated by the state of California. The design aims to reflect the fairness and equality of the law, yet avoid anything daunting or threatening.
“So there’s a balance between state standards and making this feel like Mammoth,” he said.
The design will be taller than a typical commercial building capping out at 35 feet, since the state court “big box” program requires 15 feet between floors.
Cavagnero believes the contemporary design avoids the feeling of a shopping mall and invites the public to feel the court’s presence. “It’s very glassy, very open to the public, and not shut in.”
California Superior Court Judge Ed Forstenzer also attended the meeting. “I’m here to listen to any constructive criticism that may be forthcoming from the community,” he said. “We’ve been working on this since the early part of the decade.”
He and other court representatives said they hope to create a courthouse to be proud of for the next 50 to 100 years.
“The court is a very important building. It will be here long after we are,” said Dave Wilbrecht, Mono County Administrative Officer. Wilbrecht will assist the AOC and the town with unresolved parking issues on the site.
Although underground parking is preferred by the town for future developments, in this case it is not possible because the entire site would have to be excavated – including the removal of trees.
“We’re looking at options,” said Peter Bernasconi, Civil Engineer with the town’s Public Works Department.
Rebecca Paranick of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) said the project was a fantastic opportunity, but expressed concerns about “piecemeal planning.” The secure road included in the design would shut out the type of play areas envisioned for that area by the Hart Howerton Downtown Redevelopment Concepts, which were commissioned by private citizens Rusty Gregory and Chuck Lande.
Planning Commission Chair Elizabeth Tenney asked whether the entrance to the future jail site could be gated rather than completely cut off from pedestrian access. “Rather than having the Great Wall of China, figuratively, along Sierra Park Road?”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 27 February 2009 )
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