Support The Eastern Sierra Advocate by Buying and Sharing My Gifts & Products At My E-Stores!

I, the owner of The Eastern Sierra Advocate, also have an e-store and all revenue from it not only benefits me personally, but also goes to maintaining and eventually expanding this blog, as well as to benefiting the many conservation-oriented and charitable-based groups I support and am active in. Below are examples of my Eastern Sierra-oriented gifts. All photos featured on these products are my own and I reserve all rights to them. You can also customize your own gifts and feature your own photos!

Please support this blog, my other work, and partner with me in my conservation and charitable-based activism by purchasing one or more of my gifts and products. You can also assist me by sharing this post and blog, and links to it and to my e-stores!

Thank you.

Here are some examples:

Hammil Valley & White Mtns. during storm T-shirt by Californiascapes
View more Hammil valley T-Shirts

Eastern Sierra T-Shirt by Californiascapes
Make your own custom tee at Zazzle

Sierra Nevada Coffee-mug Classic White Coffee Mug by Californiascapes
Create one-of-a-kind personalized cups from zazzle.com.

Mother's Day quote/Eastern Sierra pic coffee mug by GoldenStateGifts
Get the best in mug printing from Zazzle.

Mother's Day Quote/Eastern Sierra pic gift box Premium Keepsake Box by GoldenStateGifts
Shop for other jewelry box designs.

Palisade Crest/Sierra Nevada mountains with fog Wood Wall Art by GoldenStateGifts
Browse Palisade crest pic Wood Wall Art online at Zazzle.com

Bishop Plans to Approve New Housing Development Does Not Include Affordable Housing & Faces Opposition

In an earlier post that is still visible below, The Eastern Sierra Advocate had discussed the exclusion of young people in addressing Bishop's housing needs as well as the lack of affordable housing for them. Since then, it has come to our attention that the Economic Development section of the City of Bishop General Plan does include a housing element that investigates ways to address those needs, the housing needs of younger families and workers, particularly as it concerns low income and workforce housing, and ways to address affordable homes for first time buyers. See here: City of Bishop General Plan: Chapter Two: Economic Development. 

Now, according to a recent Sierra Wave article, Bishop is attempting to develop new housing by conducting a series of public hearings on an Initial Study and  Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration on the Kingston Subdivision tentative tract map.  The development would consist of 15 houses on 2.75 acres and be characterized as “medium density” on the former site of the Bishop Nursery near the corners of Rome Drive and Home Street. However, these are proposed as "single-family dwellings" and the plan so far does not include an affordable housing element or discussion. Of course, this is just the first phase of the development, an initial environmental impact study, so hopefully affordable housing will be addressed in future reports, plans, and within the discussions at public hearings. 

In its first such hearing, many objections from area residents were heard,  including traffic issues on Home Street, noise, variances on road requirements, the density of the housing, and loss of quality of life for existing neighbors. The South Fork Bishop Creek also passes by the area on its south and locals are concerned about the impact the development would have on the creek and its riparian habitat. 

We here at The Eastern Sierra Advocate are sad that the Bishop Nursery could soon be gone, but also know there is a lack of housing in the City of Bishop, as in the Eastern Sierra in general. We advocate developments that protects the environment and current wild habitat, that does not negatively impact the view shed, and that satisfies the concerns of current local residents. But we also hope that it will include, in the very least, a discussion on affordable and workforce housing. We encourage any reader of this post that lives in Bishop, California to take an active part in the hearings or send in your comments by mail or e-mail to the Bishop City Council, and within them, please address the issue of affordable housing. Feel free to leave your thoughts here and on our Facebook page as well. Thank you.

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From Sierra Wave: Potential Bishop housing facing opposition

by News Staff on July 15, 2015 in General, Gov, Public Event

By Deb Murphy

Lack of housing in Bishop was cited as a challenge in the City’s Economic Development Plan, but 15 houses on the 2.75 acre parcel of what has been the Bishop Nursery may not be what potential neighbors think is a solution.

The Bishop City Council held its first Public Hearing on a Negative Declaration (no negative environmental impact) for the Kingston Subdivision tentative tract map and heard eight residents of Rome Drive and Home Street outline a list of negative impacts. Both City Planning Director Gary Schley and Chief Administrative Officer Jim Tatum told the speakers the public comment would be extended 30 days, to Aug. 15 and that Monday night’s hearing was just the beginning of the process. “This is not an attempt to circumvent public input,” Tatum said. More here...

 The Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration is available on the City Planning Department’s webpage (http://www.cityofbishop.com/departments/planning/environmental-documents/)

We Are Looking For Submissions & Contributors

We Are Looking For Submissions & Contributors

The Eastern Sierra Advocate is looking for contributors! The Eastern Sierra Advocate is a one-stop resource helping those connect to and network with others working and fighting to preserve and advance the economic health and unique lifestyle of Inyo and Mono Counties, California. We provide links for and to connect conservation activists and for potential business owners looking to relocate or open a business in the Eastern Sierra, for Eastern Sierra job seekers, and links to visitor information for tourists, tourism being the biggest contributor of our economy.  We also report on issues, events, people, and opinions concerning economic development and conservation in the Eastern Sierra, like our Op-Ed on the old Kmart property and story on the Cottonwood Plaza project, as examples. Please search this site to get a better idea of what we are looking for. 

Please send an inquiry by leaving a comment on this blog or by leaving a comment or message on our Facebook page, by e-mailing Chris Forte at easternsierrapartnership@mail.com, or by mailing one to The Eastern Sierra Advocate Attn: Chris Forte 4045 Wabash Ave. San Diego, CA 92104.

We look forward to hearing from and working with you!