HVCC

Several residents and local business representatives attended the two-hour long presentation by county representatives to explain basic zoning inconsistencies between the Community Plan, existing zoning along the 247 corridor of Old Woman Springs Road and the previous zoning categories and ordinances in place two years previously.

Representatives from San Bernardino County's Land Use Services Department began by explaining the changes in the local zoning ordinances over the years, why they were changed, and why it's important for members of the community to understand that the current rezoning proposal is not something new, but rather, something that was inadvertently changed when the nomenclature used in different types of zoning were updated.

 LUSD personnel explained that proposal is not so much of a change to commercial use as it is an attempt to revert back to the commercial nature of the zoning along 247, approximately two lots deep on either side of the highway.

The county has asked HVCC to coordinate and aquire a sampling of opinions from both residents and businesses with property along highway 247 within the communities Flamingo Heights and Landers - the area which the proposed rezoning would affect most directly. This data will be used to assist the county in determining whether the zoning change is warranted, or desired.

Some points brought up during the county's presentation to HVCC were:

 1.) The county-dubbed, "Aprons" project, which, in conjunction with Cal Trans, would likely widen the existing corridor and define some streets as turn-offs from the highway, while blocking other streets that currently meet the highway.

The LUSD representatives confided to the audience that they were unaware of any such long standing plans on the drawing board and would be sure to research the matter further.

2.) That the county's motivation is not to change the zoning, but put it back the way it was before a change in the way the county actually categorizes their zoning ordinances was put into effect.

Some residents and business interests have complained recently that their properties were zoned commercial when they purchased the properties, and now they're not. This confusion has caused at least one feed store to relocate and one restaurant from opening in a location where a previous restaurant was situated, although neither of these two businesses would be served by the current proposal anyway, since the southern boundary of the current proposal ends at Luna Vista.

3.) There are no special business interests involved in the motivation for the county's action. No additional gas stations, manufacturers, or so-called big box stores are eyeing the area for expansion.

4.) The current proposal, in its attempt to set things back the way they were, is consistent w/the Community Plan that was championed by HVCC and accepted by the county as official.

HVCC will informally poll both businesses as well as residential members of the Flamingo Heights and Landers communities in an effort to assist the county's LUSD in determining how to proceed with the matter. Updates will be posted to the HVCC website.