On behalf of Supervisor James Ramos, his field representative Mike Lipsitz invited a small “focus group” to meet with the developers of the 248-house Alta Mira gated community proposed for Joshua Tree. Following a storm of concern about a closed meeting, the gathering was opened to media, although the Supervisor’s office judged that it was not subject to public meeting laws. Reporter Dan Stork was the fly on the wall, and reports that the locals and the developers expressed very different views of what Joshua Tree is—or should be —about…
The planning consultant for the Alta Mira project—John Criste, of Terranova Planning & Research in Palm Desert—listed features of the proposed residential project that he regarded as positive, concentrating on density, drainage, sustainability, and economic benefits:
· the 248 units planned are a large reduction from the 350 originally scoped;
· the density is considerably less than what the County allows in its zone;
· drainage and “sheet water” diversion has been carefully planned;
· waste water will be treated at the project’s dedicated package plant, and treated water will be injected to recharge groundwater;
· traffic studies around Friendly Hills Elementary School have been used to inform the entrance and exit design for the gated community;
· builders will be required to use solar energy in some fashion in every unit;
· garages will be pre-wired to be compatible with recharging of hybrid electric plug-in vehicles;
· no turf will be used in the project;
· Joshua Trees and other selected native vegetation will be removed to on-site nurseries during phased construction, and will be re-transplanted after construction;
· and a large proportion of the buyers are expected to be empty-nester baby boomers, with substantial discretionary income available to spend in the community.
For their part, the six local participants (conservationists Pat Flanagan and David Fick, architect and Friendly Hills Elementary School parent Janet Johnston, Joshua Basin Water District General Manager Curt Sauer, JBWD Board member Victoria Fuller, and MAC and MUSD Bond Oversight member Mark Lundquist) detailed their reservations about the project at length and with a give-and-take that would have been unlikely at a large public hearing. The objections raised ranged over:
· traffic impact around Friendly Hills Elementary School and at the intersections of Sunnyvista with State Route 62 and Alta Loma;
· school district boundaries: Friendly Hills is reportedly full, and students might have to be shifted;
· flooding: the adequacy of the drainage design was questioned
· economic viability; it was doubted that the builders could find sufficient buyers at the projected average house price of $278,000, and who would be interested in moving to Joshua Tree without getting large view lots;
· air quality: it was feared that long or incomplete construction would cause dust problems;
· a call for an Environmental Impact Report. Ron Schwartz, representing the Altamira investors, said he’d rather spend the time and money addressing the traffic safety concerns.
· dislike of a gated community; it was stated that a gated community would impair social cohesion
· Water District impact; Curt Sauer said that the developers need to address with the Water District mainline infrastructure requirements, eventual central wastewater treatment, water storage, and a funding mechanism other than Homeowner Association fees for operating the package plant.
· wildfire vulnerability;
· and wildlife corridors.
While all participants lauded the civility and specific detailed nature of the meeting, and each side came away with an enhanced appreciation of the other’s points of view, nobody’s mind was changed about the appropriate direction the project should take.
JOSHUA TREE RESIDENTS TRADE VIEWS WITH ALTA MIRA DEVELOPERS
