Yucca Mesa to be annexed to Yucca Valley?

The Hi-Desert Star reports that the Town of Yucca Valley is filing an application to annex Yucca Mesa into its "sphere of influence".

Though this is not a physical annexation, and it will not change any of the ways that services are provided by San Bernardino County to the unincorporated community, it does qualify as the first step toward annexation.

The draft review posed two questions: Does the Town have the capacity to extend its municipal services to adjacent unincorporated areas, and would the level and quality of the Town’s services be an improvement for said areas? [Stanley R.] Hoffman Associates found the answer to each question to be “an unequivocal yes.”

But does the Mesa agree? At the Town Council’s meeting, Jim Sammons of the Yucca Mesa Improvement Association told the council, “We don’t want to be involved with the Town if we can help it.”

Of particular note is that this move would shadow the boundaries of the Hi-Desert Water District, of which "the town has considered becoming the governing body...[although for the Hoffman] study it is assumed to remain as an independent district.”

The agency that governs annexations is LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission). Read more about the history of LAFCO and the State laws that govern it on the San Bernardino County LAFCO Website here. Importantly, annexation proposals ARE subject to CEQA, the California Environmental Equality Act. (Learn more about CEQA and how citizens may use this process on the MBCA Website here.)

The process for protesting an annexation proposal is briefly described on the SBco LAFCO FAQ page, including:

For inhabited areas (areas containing twelve or more registered voters), state law indicates that if written protest is filed by 25% to 50% of the registered voters, or any amount greater than 25% of the landowners, then an election is called, and the annexation would be scheduled for a vote. If the protest is less than 25% of the voters or landowners, then the annexation is approved without an election; if the protest is greater than 50% of the total registered voters, then the annexation is denied without an election.

So what does "sphere of influence" mean, specifically? In the LAFCO context, it is "a plan for the probable physical boundaries and service area of a local government agency" and "is an important benchmark because it defines the primary area within which urban development is to be encouraged", according to this section of an extensive guide to "LAFCO's, General Plans, and City Annexations" on the Governor's Office of Planning and Research Website.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Land Use/Development, Communities, and Water pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Yucca Mesa, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage.

Cadiz water project returns

Cadiz, Inc., is apparently resuscitating their proposal to store Colorado River water in underground aquifers on their thousands of acres east of Bristol Dry Lake near Amboy. The new wrinkle would include an underground pipeline on a railroad right-of-way rather than on federal land. The company announced last week that it had reached a 99-year lease agreement with Arizona & California Railroad Co.

Per SFGate:

For years, Cadiz has been working on a plan to provide Southern California with up to 49 billion gallons of water during years of drought and emergencies. It suffered a blow in 2002 when the giant Metropolitan Water District of Southern California pulled out.

Under the plan, surplus Colorado River water would be shipped during wet years by pipeline from the California Aqueduct to the Cadiz aquifer. The aquifer is 30 miles north of the aqueduct.

According to the company's web page about the project, the lead agency during the environmental review process is expected to be the County of San Bernardino. View a map of the project area here. Learn more about how the project would work here.

Learn more about water issues on the Water page of the MBCA Website.

JT DOG fundraiser a success

The JT DOG (Joshua Tree Development Oversight Group) fundraiser last week brought out 150 supporters. The fundraiser featured the film "The Unforeseen", about the attempt to build a giant housing development in Texas. Per the Hi-Desert Star:

The cinematic retelling of a mobilized citizen base protecting a natural resource resonated with the 150 attendees.

JT DOG hopes the same story can be told about Joshua Tree. The group formed this summer, according to a news release, to mobilize the community to participate in decisions about land use.

The group’s specific focus is the proposed Joshua Tree Villas, 2,700 homes on a square mile of Joshua tree forest at the corner of La Contenta and Twentynine Palms Highway.

The community is looking at ways to have more control over development.

While an incorporated entity like Yucca Valley has local governance to handle development issues through its Planning Commission and Town Council, Joshua Tree is unincorporated and directly under the jurisdiction of San Bernardino County.

The citizens have a Municipal Advisory Committee, but it does not have the authority to take legal action or issue mandates. This means a developer like Katz could work solely with the county through the development process.

Last week, the district’s newly elected supervisor, Neil Derry, speaking at a MAC meeting, said it would be wise for Joshua Tree to create it own specific plan as an amendment to the county’s General Plan. If approved by a majority of the county Board of Supervisors, it would give the community more control of land use and building standards.

For now, the DOGs are growing their base through donations and volunteers.

The community knows its in it for the long haul, that it’s “a marathon, not a sprint,” said [JT DOG member] Bonnie Kopp.

Read more in the Hi-Desert Star.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See the Land Use/Development and Joshua Tree Community pages of the MBCA Website. View previous blog posts: Joshua Tree, Katz Development/Section 33.

Candidate Forums for Water Districts this Tuesday

This Tuesday, September 30, the public will have a chance to listen to candidates for the boards of two different Basin water districts.

The Hi-Desert Water District forum will be at 6 p.m. in the Yucca Room at the Yucca Valley Community Center and is sponsored by the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce. Candidates in the race include Sarann Graham, Charles McHenry, Rae Packard, Matt Perron, Bob Stadum, Dan Munsey, and Margo Sturges. Members of the public may submit questions in advance, and the forum will be videotaped and broadcast on cable. Get the details in the Hi-Desert Star.

The Joshua Basin Water District forum will run from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Joshua Tree Community Center at 6171 Sunburst Avenue and is sponsored by the Joshua Tree Community Association. Candidates in the race include Greg Alkire, Iona Chelette, Bill Long, Mickey Luckman, Al Marquez, Mike Reynolds, Jay St. Gaudens, Gary Given, and Michael Luhrs. Read the details in the Hi-Desert Star.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Water pages of the MBCA Website. Related blog posts: Water, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage, Joshua Tree, Joshua Tree water/waste/sewage.

The natives are restless in a Solarizing Mojave

The New York Times, for one, may be finally getting a clue that all is not right under the sun in the Mojave.

In yesterday's "Solar Projects Draw New Opposition", writer Peter Maloney cites "human residents who describe themselves as desert survivors and who are unhappy about the proliferation of solar projects planned for their home turf." The article quotes local activists such as Donna Charpied (long-time opponent of the Eagle Mountain trash dump) and Jim Harvey (of JT-based Alliance for Responsible Energy Policy).

It also hints at the tension on this issue between the national leadership of the Sierra Club and the National Resources Defense Council, which has been aggressive in promoting Big Solar in the desert; and local membership, with many members advocating for both the environmental integrity of the Mojave and meaningful representation for desert communities. Smaller local groups have felt shut out of the process and are unhappy with the big nationals insisting they speak for the "environmental community".

These environmentalists favor "distributed generation," like solar panels on rooftops, and they argue that the leadership of national environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council has gone in the wrong direction.

Terry Frewin, the chairman of the Sierra Club's California/Nevada desert committee, wrote to the club's executive director, Carl Pope, in July, criticizing him for backing large-scale solar projects. "Remote solar arrays destroy all native resources onsite, and have indirect and irreversible impacts on surrounding wildernesses," Mr. Frewin wrote. He urged the Sierra Club to embrace distributed generation as an alternative to the "industrial renewable" option.

Carl Zichella, Western renewable projects director for the Sierra Club, said in response to the letter, "We don't take a back seat to anyone in caring for the desert." But he said the group's position was unchanged.

Read the full article here.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts: Energy.

Residents question Flamingo Heights Ranch development

Residents from Homestead Valley, Flamingo Heights, and Yucca Mesa community associations met recently to hear a presentation from representatives of the proposed Flamingo Heights Ranch development to build 243 homes on 640 acres. According to the Hi-Desert Star:

A tentative tract map of October 2007 shows the sprawling project straddling the Pipes Wash, Flamingo Heights and Yucca Mesa in a square mile bordered by Old Woman Springs Road on the west, Sage Avenue to the east, La Brisa Drive to the south and Luna Vista Lane to the north.

Issues of particular concern for residents include downzoning of lot size (from 2.5 acres to 1 acre) and impacts of sewage on groundwater.

Representatives of both the Yucca Mesa Improvement Association and the Homestead Valley Community Council announced their groups would oppose the project as planned.

Jim Sammons [of YMIA] declared, “We worked two years with the Bruce Davis and the county Board of Supervisors on a Desert General Plan to maintain the rural lifestyle. The consensus is that we don’t want downsized zones.”

The Homestead Valley Special Community Plan that Sammons references may be viewed here (pdf). Read the rest of the Hi-Desert Star account of the meeting here.

Learn more about the community planning process and how you can take part on our Website.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Flamingo Heights, Yucca Mesa.

Public meetings planned on land segregation for Base expansion

The Bureau of Land Management has issued a press release announcing public meetings on October 23 and 24 to "present the proposal for possible expansion of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base and to discuss the legislative withdrawal process of the public lands in San Bernardino County. The locations, times, and formats for the meetings will be announced in the near future."

A Federal Register notice published [September 15] segregates the public lands identified by the Marines for possible expansion for two years. Under the segregation, the lands are no longer available for settlement, sale, and location of claims under the mining laws. However, the lands remain open to public access and recreation use.

The notice [available online here] also explains the withdrawal process, which requires full environmental and public review and congressional approval as required by the 1958 Engle Act. The publication of the Federal Register notice begins a 90-day comment period regarding the proposed withdrawal.

After the comment period, the Marine Corps will be preparing a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for further public review to identify a range of alternatives for meeting the Corps' training requirements and analyzing the environmental impacts.

Read the rest in the BLM press release. To learn more about the EIS process and your part in it, see our Website.

ADDENDUM: Read more in this story in the San Bernardino Sun.


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.

Update on California Desert Coalition

The following announcement is from the California Desert Coalition, an organization fighting "to save our desert from the invasion of LADWP's Green Path North transmission lines."

MBCA is a proud supporter of CDC and its efforts to defend our desert ecosystems from devastation.

CDC Supporters,

I would like to extend my personal thank you to each and every one of you for your ongoing and essential support in our fight to save our desert from the invasion of LADWP's Green Path North transmission lines. Our efforts have caused politicians and the media, as well as Los Angeles Department of Water & Power officials, to take notice. I also want to tell you about two important upcoming events.

This Friday (September 26) at 2:00 p.m., the Healthy Planet, Healthy Me! show on Los Angeles radio station KPFK FM will be discussing the Green Path North Project and how it really isn't green at all. I and CDC Vice Chair Ruth Rieman will be interviewed on the program, and you can call in with your questions. Tune in to 90.7 FM or listen online at www.sherrybeall.com (click the Live tab at the top, then click the microphone icon).

On November 6, CDC will hold its next public meeting to share with you the status of the Green Path North Project and how your donations have helped us broaden the base of support against it. Please hold open the evening of Thursday, November 6, for this event. More details will be sent to you in late October.

Finally, I want you to know that a new partnership begins for CDC on October 1 as we separate from The Mojave Desert Land Trust and join The SummerTree Institute as our nonprofit umbrella organization. Be assured that your donations will follow the CDC and continue to receive tax deductible benefits.

Robin Kobaly, Executive Director of The SummerTree Institute (and Morongo Valley native), welcomes CDC with the following message:

"The SummerTree Institute is extremely pleased to provide a supportive platform for the CDC to continue its impressive campaign.

We support their dedicated and highly professional efforts to inform individuals, officials, local governments, organizations, and agencies about the potential negative impacts of GPN as proposed. We also commend the CDC's efforts to empower all involved entities at their respective levels to take appropriate actions to ensure that this project does not damage our most treasured desert resources.

Under this new relationship, the CDC will be able to continue their campaign without any interruption in momentum. We are very proud to welcome the CDC to SummerTree."

I know that in SummerTree we have found a strong and supportive parent organization that shares our concerns and will provide resources and energy for the challenges ahead in fighting LADWP. Again, thanks for your ongoing support. I hope to see you on November 6.

April Sall
Chair, California Desert Coalition
www.cadesertco.org

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

JTDOG fundraiser Tuesday night

JTDOG is having its first fundraiser this Tuesday, and you're invited!

Joshua Tree Development Oversight Group, which is watch-dogging the Katz development, will screen the award-winning documentary, The Unforeseen. From the film Website:

An ambitious west Texas farm boy with grandiose plans tires of living at the mercy of nature and sets out to find a life with more control. He heads to Austin where he becomes a real estate developer and skillfully capitalizes on the growth of this 1970s boomtown. At the peak of his powers, he transforms 4,000 acres of pristine Hill Country into one of the state’s largest and fastest selling subdivisions. When the development threatens a local treasure, a fragile limestone aquifer and a naturally spring-fed swimming hole, the community fights back. In the conflict that ensues, we see in miniature a struggle that today plays out in communities across the country.

You can watch an online trailer of the movie here.

Volunteers to help with the fundraiser are needed; contact JTDOG at their Website.

Tuesday, September 23, at 6 p.m. Donation: $10. Cocktail reception: 6:00-7:15 (cash bar). Welcoming Remarks: 7:15-7:30. Screening: 7:30-9:30. Joshua Tree Retreat Center (Mentalphysics), 59700 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.


FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See the Land Use/Development and Joshua Tree Community pages of the MBCA Website. View previous blog posts: Joshua Tree, Katz Development/Section 33.

Base expansion plans and maps on Website

The U.S. Marine Corps has moved forward with their study on acquiring more land in the Morongo Basin for MCAGCC. Their "Application for Withdrawal of Public Lands" is now posted on their 29 Palms Training Land/Airspace Acquisition Study website, along with maps of the study area. Areas being studied are to the west, south, and east of the current Base, including portions of Johnson Valley and Wonder Valley.

MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base.