Articles about MBCA's most recent issues of concern are listed in chronological order. To read a series of articles about a particular issue, navigate using the buttons above.
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Mixed Results from Supervisors' Action on Short Term Rentals
Posted by Laraine Turk · June 15, 2022 4:55 AMAdd your reaction Share
MBCA President Steve Bardwell addresses Supervisors at June 14 meeting. Photo by Stacy Doolittle
At their June 14 meeting, the San Bernardino County Supervisors voted to place a 45-day moratorium on new short-term rental (STR) permits in unincorporated areas of the County via this Urgency Ordinance. During this time the County is expected to initiate studies about housing issues caused by the excessive number of STRs. The Board also voted to prohibit transfer of STR permits with home sales and limited STR ownership to 2 per person. Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe was instrumental in championing these actions.
The Supervisors also voted on revisions to the existing Short Term Rental Ordinance forwarded by the Planning Commission. Supervisor Rowe made a motion to limit corporate and LLC ownership of STRs, but was unable to get a second on her motion to move it to a vote. MBCA along with other speakers emphasized the need to gather data and analyze the effect of STRs and housing needs at the local level incorporating input from the local community. This as the supervisors emphasized that the STR ordinance is a ‘living’ ordinance that should be expected to be revised over time.
There was some recognition by the Supervisors that any analysis could require more than 45 days of study. County Counsel informed the supervisors that the urgency notice could be extended for 10 months 15 days, and then for an additional year for a two year maximum.
MBCA's Pause Petition sent to the County on June 12 plus an Addendum presented at the meeting on June 14 were signed by a total of 474 people with 136 comments..Featured post
MBCA and Center for Biological Diversity Address the County on STRs
Posted by Laraine Turk · June 09, 2022 12:51 PMContinue reading → Add your reaction ShareAfter months of escalating concern about the proliferation of short-term rentals across San Bernardino County, especially in the desert and mountain regions, MBCA joined with the Center for Biological Diversity to ask the County to immediately pause the approval of short-term rentals. The letter also urges a comprehensive study of both STR problems and the growing lack of rental housing availability.Featured post
MBCA Supports Future Desert Protection Legislation
Posted by Laraine Turk · June 09, 2022 12:50 PMAdd your reaction ShareCongressman Raul Ruiz (Coachella Valley) is planning to introduce legislation seeking to expand federal desert land protection with a new National Monument and other protection categories. MBCA has sent a letter to the Congressman in support of this effort.Featured post
MBCA Addresses the County’s Housing Element Inconsistencies and Short-Term Rentals
Posted by Laraine Turk · June 09, 2022 12:50 PMAdd your reaction ShareIn this public comment letter to the County and to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), MBCA details the many inconsistencies between the state-required Housing Element policies and the County's open-ended Short-Term Rental Ordinance. A few of the many issues covered are housing displacement, lack of acknowledgement of community input, quantifying of housing unit objectives, and data about housing stock and housing types.Featured post
MBCA Joins Another Appeal to List the Western Joshua Tree as Threatened
Posted by Laraine Turk · June 09, 2022 12:50 PMAdd your reaction ShareAlong with 18 other non-profit organizations, MBCA signed a letter encouraging the California Fish and Game Commission to reject the flawed findings of the California Fish and Wildlife Department staff and to permanently list the Western Joshua tree as a threatened species in California.Featured post
MBCA Letter on Alta Loma x Sunset Proposed Housing Project
Posted by Laraine Turk · May 27, 2022 4:43 PM · 2 reactions2 reactions SharePhoto by Stacy DoolittleNews of this proposed Alta Loma and Sunset Avenue housing project in Joshua Tree was received on short notice and the deadline for comment is today, but we are publishing our our letter of concern sent today to the County planning staff. You will find in it a summary of our concerns about issues ranging from water use to native plant removal.Featured post
MBCA Releases Statement and Video on Short Term Rentals
Posted by Laraine Turk · May 15, 2022 9:19 AMAdd your reaction SharePhoto by Bonnie HawthorneIn a May 14 press release, MBCA published a position statement about the short term rental crisis in the Morongo Basin. In addition, MBCA announced the release of an 8-minute locally-produced video it commissioned, intended to show decision-makers how residents and businesses have been negatively affected by the STR-triggered housing crisis.A HUGE THANK-YOU TO THE 476 PETITION SIGNERS AND 133 COMMENTERS. THE SUPERVISORS AGREED TO A 45-DAY HIATUS ON APPROVING NEW STR APPLICATIONS THROUGH THIS URGENCY ORDINANCE.
Featured post
MBCA Comments on Relocation of Lucerne Valley Solar Project
Posted by Laraine Turk · April 28, 2022 3:27 PMAdd your reaction ShareMBCA joined Lucerne Valley homeowners and Mojave Communities Conservation Collaborative in a letter to protest the "relocation" of the Sienna Solar Project in Lucerne Valley. The letter points out to the San Bernardino County Supervisors how the reapplication of the project is not simply a relocation allowed by regulations, but an expansion that violates the County's Renewable Energy Conservation Element, intended to minimize negative effects and optimize benefits to unincorporated communities.Featured post
Flamingo Heights Development Should Require Environmental Impact Report
Posted by Laraine Turk · April 21, 2022 10:47 AMAdd your reaction ShareSan Bernardino County determined that a proposed 640-acre “glamping” type camping resort in Flamingo Heights does not require a full Environmental Impact Report. MBCA disagrees strongly and has submitted a letter to the County outlining the many significant environmental impacts unaddressed by the mitigated negative declaration that the project received. In addition to environmental consequences, the project is not compatible with the Homestead Valley Community Action Guide, a document that was developed with local input through the Countywide Plan process. This link provides more details about the project.Plant Spotlight: Red Yucca
A non-native grass-like plant that does particularly well in the Morongo Basin is red yucca, or Hesperaloe parviflora. Its grassy evergreen leaves provide interest during all seasons, with plants having a purple cast in the winter cold. Creative Commons photo by Fritz Hochstätter As a native of the Mexican Chihuahuan Desert, red yucca can withstand our high temperatures. The deep rose-pink blooms usually start in June and last for a long time,...Decision on Listing Joshua Trees as Threatened is Postponed
At their June 15 meeting, the four members of the California Fish and Game Commission were split on decisions relating to the status of the Western Joshua tree. Their tie votes of 2-2 applied both to a motion to list the tree as threatened and a motion to continue the decision to the August meeting, with a recommendation to develop a recovery and conservation plan. With no decision on the Joshua tree's...Mixed Results from Supervisors' Action on Short Term Rentals
MBCA President Steve Bardwell addresses Supervisors at June 14 meeting. Photo by Stacy DoolittleAt their June 14 meeting, the San Bernardino County Supervisors voted to place a 45-day moratorium on new short-term rental (STR) permits in unincorporated areas of the County via this Urgency Ordinance. During this time the County is expected to initiate studies about housing issues caused by the excessive number of STRs. The Board also voted to prohibit...Letter: MBCA Addresses the County’s Housing Element Inconsistencies and Short-Term Rentals
MBCA Addresses the County’s Housing Element Inconsistencies and Short-Term Rentals
In this public comment letter to the County and to the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), MBCA details the many inconsistencies between the state-required Housing Element policies and the County's open-ended Short-Term Rental Ordinance. A few of the many issues covered are housing displacement, lack of acknowledgement of community input, quantifying of housing unit objectives, and data about housing stock and housing types.MBCA Joins Another Appeal to List the Western Joshua Tree as Threatened
Along with 18 other non-profit organizations, MBCA signed a letter encouraging the California Fish and Game Commission to reject the flawed findings of the California Fish and Wildlife Department staff and to permanently list the Western Joshua tree as a threatened species in California.
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