San Bernardino County Planning Commission met yesterday, March 23, to review a request for a conditional use permit and to rezone a rural area into 24 acres of Commercial zoning to accommodate a Resort/hotel project. The in-person meeting began at 9:00 a.m. at the County Building in San Bernardino. It was also virtually attended via live community feed at the Bob Burke Government Center in Joshua Tree. Concerned residents of the Morongo Basin filled two County rooms and spoke for 3 minutes a piece until about 3:00.
The Wonder Valley Inn Project, proposed by Project developers Jason Landver and Alan Greenberg, was designed to repurpose an existing 1960s building – once used by Southern California Edison into a 106-room resort hotel with a 4,226 square foot restaurant/lobby, 106 guest rooms, a 5,031 square foot conference room, a 4,666 square foot wellness center, an Olympic sized pool, and ancillary structures. As stated in the agenda, Staff recommended the Commissioners adopt mitigated negative declaration findings, approve the conditional use permit, and direct Staff to file a notice of determination to the Board of Supervisors.
The developers had hired experts to survey what endangered species or plants occupy the site. David Mlynarski, principal at Transtech Engineers, Inc., and Landver emphasized that the proposed project will have little impact on wildlife movement through the area since there is ample habitat nearby where animals can pass through.
Community concerns included impacts on the quality of life, water, light pollution, increased traffic, air and dust pollution, noise pollution, and further stressing local fire and law enforcement resources.
The community expressed specific concerns about the project requesting the Commissioners to either deny the zoning request or to require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Some of the issues raised were the inconsistencies in the environmental studies presented by the Developers, the already taxed resources for fire, police, and incompatibility with the inherent nature of Wonder Valley and its residents.
According to the Developer and their Staff, there was no indication in their studies that Desert Tortoise lived around this property. Resident and Morongo Basin Association Director and Biologist Pat Flanagan contacted Ed LaRue of Circle Mountain Biological Consultants and was given his April 2020 Focused survey on the site. La Rue surveyed 40 acres, including the existing pink building, and found positive tortoise evidence. A subadult tortoise was located a half meter from its burrow, along with signs of adult tortoise scat.
The initial study presented to the Planning Commission also stated that the project location is outside a wildlife corridor. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says the project is on Terrestrial Significant Habitat and may significantly affect the environment.
Residents also cited transportation concerns, dust, road damage, traffic hazards, the risk to healthy air, and dark skies concerns. But, most importantly, this project and its proposed expansion of commercial zoning would establish a “foot-in-the-door” precedent for additional development.
Another area of community comment was that the 20-staff count estimated to run the Wonder Inn needed to be more consistent with the size and scope of the project. In addition, the additional workforce would require housing that is currently unavailable, or they would need to commute long distances, further jeopardizing air quality and impacting climate change.
Steve Bardwell, an architect, and president of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association, said new development should be focused in areas where there is potable water, wastewater treatment, roadways, and public services. He also expressed concerns that the developers’ intent to develop the purchased property’s balance into lodgings would impact an environmentally vulnerable area.
The Developers responded to the community by saying it was speculation, but all concerns would be handled during the permitting process. David Mlynarski, principal at Transtech Engineers, Inc., emphasized the County required mitigation, and additional environmental consideration would be given to the project in the building phase.
After hours of community comments and a response from the Developers, the four-person County Planning Commissioners, Jonathan Weldy, first district District; Matthew Slowik, Second District; Michael Stoffel, 3rd District; and Kareem Gongora, fifth District, voted against the conditional use permit and rezoning.
