Dear MBCA Members and Supporters,
Between now and November 20th MBCA encourages Morongo Basin residents to take time to respond to the Countywide Plan EIR, as well as to weigh in on 2007 specific Community Plan updates. This email gives you information about two specific opportunities to do so and provides links to helpful documents. The County calendar allows precious little time to get this work done.
Important dates:
Thursday, Oct. 26 - Countywide Plan EIR Scoping Meeting in San Bernardino or Joshua Tree
Monday, Nov. 6 - Community Plan(s) update meeting in Joshua Tree
Monday, Nov. 20 - Public Comment Period ENDS
Saving grace is a guiltless time to play over the long Thanksgiving weekend!
If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, know that MBCA is preparing comments to submit on the Countywide Plan. We will share MBCA’s comments with you in an upcoming E-Blast – to support your personal comments (see below on where to submit comments.)
Key comments include:
- The Countywide Plan must incorporate the existing Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Report, 2012;
- The Countywide Land Use Map (see the County’s current Land Use and Overlay maps) must incorporate the wildlife linkage designs, including South Coast Wildlands Linkage Designs and the Apple Valley Linkage Design;
- The goals and policies of the 2007 Community Plan(s) as updated must be adopted into the Countywide Policy Plan (for unincorporated areas) to ensure protection under CEQA of our land use.
Public Scoping Meeting: Countywide Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
WHEN: Thursday, October 26, 2017; 9:30 to 11:30 AM
WHERE: Joshua Tree Government Bldg. 63665 Hwy. 62, JT 92252
OR Government Center, Chamber of the Board of Supervisors,
first floor, 385 No. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino
Read this
overview and explanation of the Plan and the EIR process to prepare for the meeting. Beginning on the 5th page of
the document (the pages aren't numbered), you'll find charts and maps regarding land use and growth in newly designated county regions. It appears that the Morongo Basin will now be in a segment labeled the East Desert, differentiated from the North Desert areas north of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Local Meeting on Community Plans: Joshua Tree, Pioneertown, Morongo Valley, Homestead Valley
WHEN: Monday November 6; 5:00 PM
WHERE: Joshua Tree Community Center - 6171 Sunburst St.
Bring all your questions to this meeting. The intent is to clear any confusion and focus on how to best achieve communities’ interests by ensuring the 2007 Community Plans are updated and that essential areas will be studied in the EIR for the Community Wide Plan. (Read the
2007 Countywide EIR .)
Make a difference in future conservation, land use and economic development policies! Send written comments to:
Karen Watkins, San Bernardino County Planning Department,
re: San Bernardino Countywide Plan –
Mail: Karen Watkins, San Bernardino County Planning Dept., 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., first floor, San Bernardino, CA. 92415-0110 (sign and print your name if using US Mail, and include street address)
Online: http://countywideplan.com/openhouse/ (no longer available)
REMINDER:
Saturday, November 4
Experts on ZNE from Southern California Edison will make a presentation and after short Q&A period, a number of local service-providers who can help you with ZNE projects will be available.
Sincerely,
Sarah Kennington, MBCA President
Your 2017 MBCA Board
David Fick, Vice President Steve Bardwell, Treasurer
Marina West, Recording Secretary Pat Flanagan, Director
Meg Foley, Director Ruth Rieman, Director
Claudia Sall, Director for Events Seth Shteir, Director
Laraine Turk, Director
MBCA advocates for a healthy desert environment
that nurtures the region’s rural character, cultural wealth
and economic well-being.
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