By Mike Gervais
Register Staff
1-29-2009

Inyo County has an opportunity to hitch a ride on an Eastern Sierra scenic highway project that has the potential to draw visitors to the area.
But in tough financial times, the prospect of spending scarce money on such a project has the Board of Supervisors considering every option.
Representatives from the Inyo National Forest approached the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to discuss any interest in applying for a scenic highway designation for portions of U.S. 395 and other local highways.
Currently, there are several sections of U.S. 395 that carry the scenic designation.
Those designations, said Jeff Marsolais of the Forest Service Recreational Lands and Wilderness Recreation Department, could help attract visitors to the Eastern Sierra.
Third District Supervisor Beverly Brown, however, expressed apprehension about the program because the county would be obligated to spend money or dedicate resources to the project.

The board agreed to meet with Marsolais again next week for a more in-depth discussion.
Marsolais said the Forest Service is working with a group of stakeholders, including Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes, on obtaining grant funding to study the feasibility and the ins and outs of a scenic highway designation for local highways.
Marsolais is hoping to apply for a $250,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration to study the potential designation. If Inyo County wants to get on board, he said, it would be asked to contribute matching funds – approximately 20 percent of the $250,000. Marsolais noted that, in light of the tough financial position the county is in, it would have the option of providing its matching funds by allocating county staff time to work on the project, saving the board from spending any real money on the project.
But before the board would commit to the project, it wanted some information about how the scenic highway designation would affect development in the county.
According to Matt Pederson, a representative with the Forest Service who is working on the project, there are a series of regulations that come with the highway, which include limits on the density of development, placement of billboards and other commercial advertising and the appearance of structures.
Second District Supervisor Susan Cash asked if the regulations apply only to the highway corridor with the designation, or if it would impact everything within the line of sight of the highway.
Pederson said he wasn’t entirely sure about that. He said he would look into it and get back to the board next week.
Fourth District Supervisor Marty Fortney wanted to be sure that, if the county does participate in the highway study, residents would have the opportunity to weigh in. “Local communities should have a say if a scenic highway goes through their neighborhood,” he said.
Marsolais noted that the county would have the ability to hold public meetings to discuss the process and get input from residents.
First District Supervisor Linda Arcularius wanted assurances that, if the county participates in the study and finds that it is not interested in the designation, it would have the ability to cancel its participation.

Marsolais said that decision would be 100 percent up to the county.
While Fifth District Supervisor Richard Cervantes said he supported the designation because it would draw motorists to the area, Supervisor Brown was adamantly opposed to spending state or federal money to conduct a mere study that may or may not result in action.
“I think this is an obscene waste of money – $250,000 to do a study,” Brown said.
Supervisor Fortney was also apprehensive about spending money on a scenic highway designation that could hinder development and marketing opportunities.
“I’d like to have more answers” before making a decision, Fortney said.
The board assigned Interim Public Works Director Doug Wilson, Roads Director Bob Smith and Museum Services Director Jon Klusmire, who has worked on a number of county advertising projects, to meet with Marsolais and Pederson on the project.
In order to apply for the Federal Highway Administration Grant, Marsolais said the Forest Service needs an answer from Inyo County by early February.
The board will take up the discussion again at its meeting next week.