Land Development

Morongo Basin residents cherish our region for its open spaces, native plant life, spring wildflowers, scenic views, wildlife encounters, clean air, and dark night skies. To maintain these natural and rewarding conditions, MBCA provides information and encourages public comment on land development that may threaten the very conditions that make our region unique and eminently livable and enjoyable.

Problems that arise from poorly-planned developments include excessive dust from land scraping, blocking of wildlife corridors, flooding, and traffic and safety issues.

Past developments of concern have included poorly-sited solar fields and a casino. More recently, an inappropriately large gated housing subdivision (see information on Alta Mira below), a chain store, and another poorly-sited solar field have been of concern.

Our latest information on land development issues in the Morongo Basin will be provided on this page and the MBCA News page.

Featured post

MBCA Joins Opposition to AB 1633 that Weakens CEQA Protections

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 31, 2023 7:49 PM
Joining 80 other concerned non-profit organizations, MBCA signed a letter to California's Senate Appropriations Committee members describing how the bill will: 1) allow developers to sue before environmental review; 2) reduce the incentive to complete environmental review; 3) allow developers to avoid public scrutiny; and 4) discourage legitimate environmental justice lawsuits.
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MBCA Comments at County Land Use Services Open House

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 31, 2023 6:57 PM

At the County Land Use Services Open House held in Joshua Tree on August 30, MBCA's President Steve Bardwell talked at some length with Mark Wardlaw, new Director of the department. MBCA sent a followup letter outlining concerns about land use issues that affect the Morongo Basin's unincorporated communities particularly. The letter includes some specific suggestions and summarizes our concerns related to water issues, Community Action Guides, climate change, Short-Term Rental ordinances, and a number of other topics.
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County STR and Housing Meeting Brings Large Crowd

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 26, 2023 12:34 PM
Photo credit Valeree Woodard

Nearly 100 area residents crowded both rooms of the Joshua Tree Community Center to hear a report on the County's Program 4 Housing study, initiated to answer the question, "How Are Short-Term Rentals Impacting the Housing Market?" Colin Drucker, a representative of PlaceWorks, one of the two contracted consulting firms, presented a slide show summarizing the data gathered so far. He noted that the study covers only the unincorporated areas of the mountains and “east desert” (Morongo Basin) and not the “north desert” (i.e. Lucerne Valley, Newberry Springs, etc.).
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Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Recommendations Sent

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 04, 2023 8:41 PM
MBCA is among four regional conservation non-profits recommending together in this letter that the draft of the San Bernardino County Regional Conservation Investment Strategy be edited to meet statute requirements regarding quantifiable goals and gap analysis. In addition, MBCA along with Mojave Desert Land Trust, California Desert Coalition, and The Wildlands Conservancy suggest the use of the 2012 Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Report to enrich the evaluative data for habitat value.
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MBCA Requests Denial of Bonanza Solar Project and a New ACEC

Posted by Laraine Turk · July 21, 2023 1:53 PM
MBCA's comment letter to the Bureau of Land Management requests they deny the Bonanza Solar Project in the greater Las Vegas area of the Mojave Desert and instead establish an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to protect an incredible array of desert plants and wildlife that would be decimated by the project.
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Letter: Comment Requests Denial of Bonanza Solar Project and a New ACEC

Posted by Laraine Turk · July 21, 2023 12:48 PM
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Eblast June 23, 2023
Posted by Steve Bardwell · June 23, 2023 10:54 AM
Light Trespass Ordinance Now in Effect

Talking Trash (and Recycling!)

Desert-Wise Living Landscape Tour

Pioneertown and Land Use in The Morongo Basin
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Eblast April 10, 2023
Posted by Steve Bardwell · April 11, 2023 7:16 PM
2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour

Attend MBCA and Friends of Wonder Valley Dark Skies event

Wonder Inn and Flamingo 640 appealed to Board of Supervisors
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Eblast March 20, 2023
Posted by Steve Bardwell · April 11, 2023 6:56 PM
Wonder Inn Project to be considered by Planning Commission

Flamingo 640 Glamping Project has been appealed!

2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour
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Flamingo 640 Glamping Project "Denied without prejudice"

Posted by Laraine Turk · March 10, 2023 11:46 AM
The San Bernardino County Planning Commissioners listened to almost three hours of public comments almost completely against the RoBott Land Company's proposal for a Conditional Use Permit for "a campground that includes a number of facilities, including 75-camp sites, camp store, restaurant, bar, restrooms, pool, workshop buildings, helipad, and common area gardens and pathways within an approximate 25-acre portion of a 640- acre parcel." The denial of the project "without prejudice" means the company can appeal to the Board of Supervisors or resubmit a revised program later. You can view the meeting on the County's website; the public hearing on the glamping project starts at 9:22 AM.
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Land Development

Featured post

MBCA Joins Opposition to AB 1633 that Weakens CEQA Protections

Featured post

MBCA Comments at County Land Use Services Open House

Featured post

County STR and Housing Meeting Brings Large Crowd

Featured post

Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Recommendations Sent

Featured post

MBCA Requests Denial of Bonanza Solar Project and a New ACEC

Featured post

Letter: Comment Requests Denial of Bonanza Solar Project and a New ACEC

Featured post

Eblast June 23, 2023

Featured post

Eblast April 10, 2023

Featured post

Eblast March 20, 2023

Featured post

Flamingo 640 Glamping Project "Denied without prejudice"

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Letter: Comment Supports MDLT Acquisition of Corridor Spring Land

Letter: Comment Requests Denial of Bonanza Solar Project and a New ACEC

Letter: Group Comments on BLM Proposed Public Lands Rule

Letter: Group Comment Expresses Trailer Bill Concerns

Letter: Comments on Golden Currant Solar Project

Letter: MBCA Supports SB 233, Bidirectional EVs

Letter: Group Support of Landscape Water Conservation

MBCA Joins Opposition to AB 1633 that Weakens CEQA Protections

Dust Issues in Mojave AQMD Rule 401