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Inyo joins Mono, Bishop and Mammoth in contract for regional housing needs assessment; county share about $56,000
Summary
Inyo County approved participating in a four‑jurisdiction regional housing needs assessment and market analysis led by BAE Urban Economics, with the county’s share reduced by cost‑sharing to an estimated $56,000; the study will include employer and community interviews and aims to produce more granular demand and feasibility data.
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 approved joining Mono County, the City of Bishop and the Town of Mammoth Lakes in a regional housing needs assessment and market analysis that will be performed by BAE Urban Economics.
County staff explained the study will supply a more detailed, actionable data layer than the eight‑year housing element update typically provides. Officials said developers and lenders frequently ask for granular information—who needs housing, earnings by occupation, unit size and whether residents want to rent or buy—and that the regional study will include targeted employer interviews, stakeholder outreach and feasibility analysis.
Cost and contracting: The full contract with BAE is for approximately $222,000. Because the four jurisdictions agreed to share cost and technical resources, Inyo County’s share will be about $56,000—lower than the roughly $80,000 the county had earlier budgeted for a solo effort. Inyo County will contract for the study and invoice the other jurisdictions for their portions; Mono’s contribution is proportionally smaller because Mono also retained another technical consultant (SMR Development) to provide additional development expertise for the combined project.
Why it matters: County staff emphasized the study’s purpose is to identify feasible housing types, estimated subsidy needs and target populations (for example, year‑round local workers, seasonal workers, or ownership vs. rental demand). The last regional housing needs assessment that included Inyo was completed in 2005; staff and supervisors framed this as a long‑overdue update tailored to the Eastern Sierra’s mixed resort and rural conditions.
Study design highlights: BAE’s scope includes a market analysis, demand segmentation, interviews with employers and real‑estate professionals, a gap analysis of vacant and underused housing types, and recommendations for policy and funding to advance site‑specific projects. Staff said the study is expected to take about nine months and will include public and stakeholder outreach through workshops and surveys.
Board discussion: Supervisors asked whether the study could identify vacant or underused units and whether it would distinguish micro‑regional differences (for example, housing located in outlying communities that could supply workers to Bishop or Mammoth). Staff responded that the consultant team will pursue targeted interviews and qualitative outreach to capture vacancy reasons and local constraints, and that the regional approach specifically seeks to identify cross‑jurisdictional solutions.
Ending: The contract and the cost‑sharing agreement were approved; staff will provide timelines and outreach plans as the consultant begins work.
