THE PRECEDENT
• Well, we told you so. The controversial “glamping” development south of Flamingo Heights on a property zoned for Rural Living met with objections on many fronts when the developers spoke at a recent meeting of the Homestead Valley Community Council.
One gripe: the precedent it sets for commercial developments popping up anywhere in RL zones.
My dictionary defines “precedent” as a prior instance, example, pattern, and standard. Sure enough, “glamping” looks like the example, pattern, and standard for the new rush to defile the desert.
The outrageous request for County Land Use Services to allow land in Landers to be occupied by a commercial motel with little dome wannabes next to the unique and historic Integratron was bad enough.
Now we hear of the “Bubble Hotel.”
The application says it is in Yucca Valley. But, it is in the Yucca Valley Sphere of Influence, on undeveloped territory in Yucca Mesa zoned for Rural Living – “SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.”
Calling this project a campground let it squeak past allowable RL uses. Calling it a park does not make it a park (see Dictionary again: park = public garden, recreation ground, playground, play area, public/municipal park.)
Even the application describes the land as a “desert-related habitat, including Joshua trees, creosote, and saltbush scrub habitat.”
The County okayed it, and it goes on to the State Housing and Community Development department. You may imagine ten portable transparent camping pods fit into the SHCD category of “special purpose commercial modulars” but it’s a stretch.
Add in a 1,200-square-foot office and reception building and a 400-square-foot storage building on an 18.06-acre parcel, and it’s obviously not Rural Living that fits with the character of its surroundings as in the County’s Homestead Valley Community Action Plan.
We won’t mention noise or traffic. I’m sure the twenty temporary rural residents paying hundreds of dollars to “live” there will turn off the lights in those transparent bedrooms, and the proprietors will turn off the lights in the swimming pool and other areas. Lots of no concern here for dark skies and yucca moths.
This can have a negative impact on all Rural Living Zones in San Bernardino County. HVCC has requested our Supervisor Dawn Rowe to ask for a clarification of allowable uses from Land Use Services.
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HVCC MEETING
• Everyone is welcome to the Homestead Valley Community Council meeting, this Monday, December 19th, at 3:00 p.m.
Our new Assemblyman Tom Lackey plans to attend to introduce himself to the Homestead Valley community. He will also be presenting some Certificates of Recognition.
As always, representatives from the fire departments, the Sheriff’s department, and the Marine Base are invited to report to citizens of the four Homestead Valley communities. Some hot-button topics also draw attendance from other High Desert communities.
If you have questions or issues for County, State, or Federal officials, that’s what the Homestead Valley Community Council is for.
The Yucca Mesa Community Center address is 3133 Balsa Ave. From Hwy 247 turn onto Aberdeen Rd. (watch out for oncoming traffic), go about and turn left on Balsa. The Community Center is a short distance ahead on your right.
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JV BOUTIQUE
• Doing some last-minute shopping? Remember the Johnson Valley Community Center Boutique Table makes it easier. Gift ideas include:
–Heart Bar Ranch and Johnson Valley Neighbors, written and published in the 1980s by early JV homesteader Martha Coutant, re-published in 2021 by the Morongo Basin Historical Society, which added photos from their collections. This large-format book is only 20.00 (discounted for us by the MBHS as a JVIA fundraiser).
-Offroaders love the famous Sidekick Bandana Map, 21.5” square, silk-screened with a map of Johnson Valley OHV Area trails and topography, GPS Coordinates for the original Hammers trails, only 8.00.
-And for stocking-stuffers: Johnson Valley specialty gifts include the Keychain Flashlight, very little but very bright, only 5.00.
(All prices include sales tax. Yes, non-profits must collect sales tax on anything they sell for fundraising, even the donations made for items on the New-To-You Table.)
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TOY DRIVE COUNTDOWN
• Only one more weekend to bring gifts for the Toy Drive sponsored by the Homestead Valley Community Council.
Bring unwrapped gifts and toys – value 10.00 or more – to benefit Mara’s Christmas Wish in Yucca Valley.
See the attached flyer for locations and times.
-NOTE: new listing, Monday, December 19th at the HVCC Meeting in the Yucca Mesa Community Center, 3:00 p.m.
Thanks in advance for your generosity!!
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SANTA’S ROCKIN’ HOLIDAY CAR SHOW
• Lots of seasonal spirit at Jess Ranch over in Apple Valley this Saturday, December 17th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.
-Enjoy FREE professional 4×6 photos with Santa, up to two per family while supplies last. Located Next to Giuseppe’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
-Also, Crafts with Santa’s Elf while supplies last. Located Next to Giuseppe’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant
– Be amazed and amused at the Magic Show by Anthony the Magic.
Located near Giuseppe’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant. The show will begin at 1:00 p.m. Seating is limited, first come first served.
-Live Music provided by The Modd Rodds. Located near 24 Hour Fitness
-The Holiday Car Show hosted by Inglis Classics shines in the parking lot near 24 Hour Fitness.
– Pin-up contest
-Donate some toys to the Toy Drive hosted by Inland Mopars
From Johnson Valley turn left on Hwy 247. Continue on to Hwy 18 at the Lucerne Valley Crossroads; then on 18 to Bear Valley Rd.
Go about 7.5 miles to Jess Ranch Marketplace, 18805–18901, Bear Valley Rd, Apple Valley,
For more information, go to https://jessranchmarketplace.com
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I-15 NIGHT TRAVEL ALERT
• If you’re coming this way on Interstate 15 or going home: Caltrans continues work this week on 59 miles of lane, ramps, and drainage systems. (The project spans from Oak Hill Road in Hesperia to just south of Bear Valley Road in Victorville.)
This weekend, work will take place through Sunday:
-between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. on northbound I-15, and
-between 6:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m. on southbound I-15.
Alert: A traffic reconfiguration is in place on the northbound and southbound Lane 1.
It now shifts inward toward the newly-configured center median, and splits from the four adjacent lanes, with a k-rail on both sides of the lane for about a mile.
Traffic in both directions can use these newly constructed lanes temporarily until construction is complete. Big rigs, trucks and trailers, or large loads should not be using lane 1.
Another alert: There could be connector closures at the I-15 to US 395 during striping operations.
Please drive safely.
FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS
To new readers: this JV NEWS e-mails every week or two, expanding on items published in the neighborhood column in the Hi-Desert Star. Other notices of particular interest to Johnson Valley residents and property owners also circulate to this list.
If you do not wish to receive this information, just reply and tell me to remove your name.
JVIA ADDRESS & DIRECTIONS:
The mailing address is:
JVIA
50567A Quailbush Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285
Directions to the Community Center:
From Hwy 247, between mile markers 21 and 22, turn onto Larrea Road at the big red highway sign and go 1-3/4 miles to Quailbush Rd. The Community Center is on your left at the corner.
- You are always welcome to every event at the JV Community Center, member or not…but now’s a good time to join up for 2023! Dues, only 15.00 per year. Subscription to the JV Journal in the mail, 3.00 for 6 issues.
We now have 93 Early Memberships processed for 2023, and more in the works.
You can pick up your 2023 JVIA membership application in the Community Center at the Saturday Breakfast between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. or when you come to a First Saturday Dinner.
Or, pay your 15.00 annual dues by secure credit card on www.johnsonvalley.com and download your membership form to print and fill out and mail to us.
Dues are due on January 31, 2023, but please sign up soon, so your receipt and membership cards won’t be delayed too much by holiday activities and vacations.
- The monthly meetings of the Homestead Valley Community Council give you a wealth of information from our County Supervisor’s office, the Fire Department, CalFire and the Sheriff’s Department, the Marine Base, and other representatives from county, state, and federal authorities.
The Johnson Valley Improvement Association is one of the four associations from unincorporated communities which established this grassroots organization. Information is circulated among our members and other JV residents and property owners. Citizens present issues in the meetings, the Council follows up with them wherever we see the need.
Plan to come to HVCC meetings at 3:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The location rotates around the four Community Centers; it’s Johnson Valley in February, June, and October.
See Newsletters, HVCC Actions and Comments, as well as meeting agendas on http://homesteadvalleycc.com
See scenic highway documents and Visual Assessment on www.scenichighway247.org.
Betty Munson
760-364-2646
Betty Munson
c/o Ship-It-Shop
51720 Hacienda Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285