“It’s important for us to sit down at the table and answer people’s questions,” he added. “We’re eager to work with the community on this."“As this process goes on, it’s important to know what the stakeholders’ concerns are and as they look at proposed parcels, what they think the impacts will be,” [Lt. Col. James McArthur] said.
The project is still in the study stage as an environmental impact report is constructed. Formal public meetings for the EIS process will be held in December. McArthur expects the entire process will take at most two years.
The environmental report, which will identify several alternatives to expand the Marine base or abandon the project, will be given to the Secretary of the Interior.
Ultimately, the expansion will be approved or denied by the United States Congress and then signed by the president of the United States.
Of note, the map on view at the meeting made it clear that Twentynine Palms would be affected. The expansion study area in Wonder Valley and Twentynine Palms would include the entire area of land north of Poleline Road between the Cleghorn Lakes National Wilderness Area on the east and the current Base southern tip on the west, including private residences.
Larry Johnston drove from Upland to Thursday’s meeting because he and his family own property on land in the Wonder Valley area that falls within the expansion proposal.“I’m very concerned,” said Johnston.
“My dad homesteaded five acres up here probably 50 years ago.” Now, he said, Johnston, his siblings and their cousins all own homesteads on adjoining properties there. “We’ve been coming up here since we were kids.”
Read more about expansion plans, with links to maps, in this previous post.
MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley.
