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GLAMPING PLAN
• Please pass the word to your neighbors and get this out through your social networks.
Flamingo Heights residents have expressed strong objections to a permanent “Glamping” campsite facility in a Rural Living Zone just south of their community, and the idea that a precedent might be set for easy commercial disruption of any Rural Living Zone, so this issue is important for all of us.

We have confirmation that Robott Land Company, the Flamingo Heights 640 Glamping project applicants, will be at the meeting of the Homestead Valley Community Council, this Monday, August 15th at 3:00 p.m., in the Yucca Mesa Community Center.

See the Robott’s brochure included in the HVCC August meeting agenda packet at http://homesteadvalleycc.com/meetings.html

Obviously, the developers expect Joshua Tree National Park tourism will benefit them.
We have commented their guests will likely be heading out all over to even nearer attractions, and sure enough, the brochure says, “The Subject Property is in close proximity (within 15-minute drive) to Pappy and Harriet’s, Pioneertown, La Copine, Joshua Tree downtown and the park entrance, the Integratron, and Giant Rock.”

I have had “oh, poo poo”  reactions if I mention the traffic problems at that location on 247 (reported frequently to me, Caltrans, and the CHP).

One argument against this project has been that 300 guests plus all their “Glamping” cooks and bottle washers, arriving and leaving on an unfamiliar two-lane highway, even if there were turnouts, will be at risk from speeders climbing up and around those curves coming out of Pipes Canyon. Robott’s traffic data is Caltrans folks with clickers counting vehicles driving by.

The “beautiful deep canyon wash (Pipes Wash)” and all these 640 acres lie in an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The BLM lists this as a wildlife corridor – don’t think the critters will stop at the property line, nor will the happy hikers. This is a Federal land management issue. We have not heard that they have contacted the BLM.

Robott says about Rural Living Zone development,

“Other options include, subject to a CUP, doing a mixed-use development with hospitality, entertainment venue, residential, and commercial.”

The CUP, the Conditional Use Permit, is under review by the County.
We have always understood Commercial use in a Rural Living Zone applies to home-based businesses, not to a permanent installation equivalent to a motel or hotel plus a parking lot on the site. When Flamingo Heights established the Commercial Zone along Hwy 247, they did NOT include this property.

Anyway, the brochure shows the used-car-salesman approach the developers take. Lots of shiny chrome, but County better get a car guy to look under the hood.

We all live in an RL Zone; I feel many of us would not care to have a commercial development like this for a neighbor. Will this set a precedent?

I hope you can make it to the HVCC on Monday, August 15, 3:00 p.m. The Yucca Mesa Community Center is at 3133 Balsa Road. Coming from the Johnson Valley direction, you will pass right by the glamping property, on your left in the black lava buttes area.

Be alert – you descend into Pipes Wash, pass Pipes Canyon Road, then right after you leave the Wash, you must make a quick left onto Aberdeen Drive. Go about 2.5 miles, turn left at Balsa Road. The Center is a short distance ahead on your right.

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OKTOBERFESTBREWS
• Just released by our Brewmaster: the Brew Menu for the Johnson Valley 12th Annual Oktoberfest!

Märzen Oktoberfest – Our annual offering is the traditional fall Oktoberfest celebration beer. We change it slightly each year. For this upcoming 12th annual JVIA Oktoberfest we added specialty biscuit malts for increased toasted bread flavor and amber color. Our Märzen always sells out so get one early.

German Pils – Light body, gold color, and prominent floral hoppiness. Easy drinking and perfect with brats and pretzels.

Orange Weissbier – A traditional wheat ale with orange peel added during fermentation. Easy drinking and perfect for those who do not like hoppy beers.

Schwarzbier – “Black” lager with hints of coffee and chocolate from the roasted barley malt added to the mash. Similar to stout but not as heavy or bitter.

Rauchbier – Amber-colored malty lager brewed with barley smoked over beechwood logs and imported from Bamberg Germany – the city that makes this style famous.

Fall Spiced Hard Apple Cider – Back again! Pure pressed unfiltered apple cider fermented with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and a splash of vanilla. For the non-beer drinkers.

Oktoberfest is Saturday, October 15th in the JV Community Center. Stay tuned for more details about this big day, and Early Bird Discount Ticket reservations.

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ILLEGAL POT FARMS
• The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division continues to enforce California cannabis laws and San Bernardino County’s ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution.  Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property.

The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis, over six plants, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, Possession of Stolen Property, Illegal Water Discharge, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, and Conspiracy.

Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties in violation of state law and local ordinances may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions.

If you have information regarding this investigation, you are urged to contact the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909)387-8400 or NARC-MET@sbcsd.org. If you wish to remain anonymous, call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

This info came from our Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s newsletter. The Third District is huge with lots of things going on, both local events and governmental actions. Subscribe at https://bosd3.sbcounty.gov/email-updates/

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FLOOD MUD
• Monsoon season seems to want to hang on, Morongo Basin remains under Flood Watch with rainfall predictions continuing. You just can’t tell where the skies will open next. You may not see any rain, then come around a curve and find a gully washer.

Coming into Johnson Valley, at our turn onto Larrea Road, be very wary. If you see a huge puddle covering the road, don’t just splash on through. The pile of sand hidden underwater can spin even big trucks out of control and flip a smaller vehicle traveling at speed.

Locals know to drive around it, if possible, to make the turn; Lake Larrea has flooded the pavement many times. Caltrans pushes the sand up onto the roadside and puts up “flooded” signs, but more rain brings back the hidden sandbar.

But, it is nice anyway to see more of the rain sink into the ground now. And what smells better than the desert after the rain?

In its usual unpredictable way, most monsoon action last Monday hit up Barstow way – power outages, school and business closures.

 

We still hear warnings of the many roads washed out in the recent flooding in Death Valley and Mojave National Preserve. That’ll take a while to fix.

 

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FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS—-

• JVIA ADDRESS & DIRECTIONS
The mailing address is:

JVIA
50567A Quailbush Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285

Directions to the Community Center:

From Hwy 247, turn onto Larrea Road, go 1-3/4 miles to Quailbush Rd.
The Community Center is on your left at the corner.

The Paul Van Hook Desert Dreams Garden is next to the parking lot, open to all.
No charge; just keep the dog on the leash and kids out of the train layouts – THANKS!

 

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Told you it was raining cats and dogs!

Keep smilin’

Betty

 

Betty Munson

 

Betty Munson
c/o Ship-It-Shop
51720 Hacienda Rd.
Johnson Valley CA 92285

By Betty Munson

Betty Munson c/o Ship-It-Shop 51720 Hacienda Rd. Johnson Valley CA 92285

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