Even though the project was approved some years ago, the recent mass grading for a new Yucca Valley subdivision is causing a lot of controversy. Strong public reaction led to what amounts to a public shaming of the Yucca Valley Town Council at their Tuesday meeting. Managing Editor Tami Roleff was there and files this report…
During public comment in Tuesday’s meeting of the Yucca Valley Town Council, resident Bonnie Brady stood up to express her disgust with the mass grading of a new subdivision on Sage Avenue and Golden Bee that removed hundreds of Joshua trees and yuccas. “I’m here to cry over spilled milk, here to mourn water over the bridge, and I’m here as a little old lady in tennis shoes to shake my finger at you and say ‘shame.’” She said the town council has failed in its duty to protect native plants, and urged the council to take another look at the town’s native plant ordinance. “In my opinion, the influence of some contractors, builders, real estate people and others, watered down the code until it resulted in what we have today up on Sage. The resulting dead Joshua trees won’t be apparent for several years.
The development code passed with the weakest native plant protection policy, but you all know what the spirit and intent were, that was protection. I would suggest that the council revisit this issue of native plant protection, until you get it right. Otherwise, look at re-naming our town East Moreno Valley.”
Council member Bob Leone was visibly upset as he took some responsibility for the mass grading of the site. “I do take some responsibility. Because when we reviewed the plant ordinance, I was more concerned with including some of the plants that were removed and getting the pinon pine and some of the others. It had gotten by me that the town had put in there it was ‘strongly advised’ to remove these plants with a spade’ and not a bulldozer.”
Leone also called for a second look at the town’s native plant ordinance. “These are living plants that are unique to this desert…. Education is needed…. We have a great responsibility.” Then, Leone made a pointed jab at the developer behind the project, Bill Shack. “I want this plant ordinance to save these plants and the words changed in a way that are really effective that we don’t rape the soil in this valley and developers saving money and doing it the easy way. This is a Shack Attack.”
