Petition update

HEADING TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION

caroline partamian
Yucca Valley, CA, United States
Feb 2, 2023

Thank you to everyone who has signed this petition so far in opposition to Flamingo 640! If you have capacity, we kindly ask you to take a few additional steps to further stand against this project, whether by going to the county in person during the next few planning commission meetings, or reaching out to the planning commission via email. We share updates and applicable information below. Thank you for your time. We can only do this together
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The application filed with San Bernardino County to establish a Glamping "destination resort" aka Flamingo 640 is at a CRITICAL step, as it is about to head to the Planning Commission. Flamingo 640 consists of 75 clustered glamping tent sites and chalet (each 220 to 1,230 SF each) with support facilities including a restaurant, bar, reception area/store, recreational paths, art barn, yoga deck, fire pits, and a helipad spanning 640 acres—none of which will be open to the public—on the east side of the 247/Old Woman Springs between La Brisa Ave and Luna Springs Rd.

*The task before us* is to get as many people to the next Planning Commission Meeting, scheduled for a week from today, February 9, 2023 at 9am.
Board Chambers, 385 N. Arrowhead Avenue, 1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415

Even though the agenda is not yet posted for February 9, we can start attending to give public comment. We do not have to wait for it to be on the agenda. 


Here are the planning commissioners who you will be speaking to:
Chair Jonathan Weldy - First Supervisorial District
Commissioner Raymond Bragg - Second Supervisorial District 
Vice Chair Michael Stoffel -  Third Supervisorial District 
Commissioner Melissa Demirci - Fourth Supervisorial District 
Commissioner Kareem Gong - Fifth Supervisorial District

More information here.

TALKING POINTS*

  • Speak from the heart
  • Traffic Argument: This development will pose a significant traffic hazard; the narrow two lane on highway 247 cannot support increased constant traffic and has already been the site of many fatal and critical accidents
  • Environmental Argument:
    • Demand a full Environmental Impact Report under CEQA, which would include traffic studies, wildlife impact analysis, air/water quality, noise, and dark sky impacts among other important issues
    • This project will endanger wildlife along one of the most beautiful wildlife corridors along Pipes Canyon Wash bordering Sand to Snow National Monument, including desert tortoises and burrowing owls that have been spotted in the area; threaten Joshua Trees (this project plans to remove at least 34 trees) and Mojave Yuccas, and more. 
    • This development will strain the land with a 60,00 SF sewage disposal area and expansion
    • This development will exacerbate our water resources in an area that already has a low water table
    • This development will add light, air and noise pollution in a currently serene desert expanse above a wash, which carries sound for miles.
  • Community Argument: This development does nothing to help our local communities as the public will not be allowed to access any of its amenities at all. Further, it will stress our LIMITED RESOURCES on housing and access to water and food. This project does nothing to strengthen our small but beautiful community, but only destroys the preservation of serenity and quality of life.
  • Tourism Argument: This development would further the CROWDING of Joshua Tree National Park (with already long wait times up to an hour to enter).
  • Code Argument: The area is zoned for 'rural living,' not commercial, which the applicants have circumvented with a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). This project could set a dangerous precedent and affect other rural living codes if the developer gets through the loophole by calling this project a ‘campground.’
  • Speak the language of the developers:
    • Disastrous investment on their part
    • Potential disasters that could arise: financially, weather-wise, natural disasters
    • Outside developers have no idea about the weather: up to 80mph winds on the mesa, anything poorly built would have to require constant reconstruction
    • Global downturn upcoming in economy
    • Short Term Rental (STR) numbers and permit proposals are decreasing because they’re not getting the traffic they expected.
    • Bad timing
    • Could ultimately lose more tourist dollars than gain - more educated desert lovers who have been visiting for years will no longer want to visit or live here
    • Even if they want to sell it, they won’t be able to flip it for as much as they’ve already spent on

*If you cannot attend yourself, plan to attend on Thursday, February 23rd. You can also send someone else to represent your statement, too. 
 
Those who are unable to attend in person and live out of the state or country, but love the desert, can and should start emailing: PlanningCommissionComments@lus.sbcounty.gov

Folks who cannot make it down to San Bernardino Board Chambers will be able to make comments from Joshua Tree center as well. 

Let’s get a bunch of people out there on February 9th, and even more on February 23rd. Organize a carpool.  

Because our voices as a collective will be hard to ignore. If we need to, we will tie up the planning commission for as long as we can.

Thank you for your time and compassion. 

 

image design: Nathini van der Meer, tortoise drawing: Aidan Koch 


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