Concerned Citizens,
Thank you for your support of Beaumont Citizens for Responsible Growth (BCRG). Your commitment gives the people of Beaumont a stronger voice, by uniting and making our opinions and concerns known to local government officials.
We are proud of what we have accomplished and with more people involved we can make a greater statement.
We strive to keep a sense of community in these transient times. A 20% voter turnout is a barometer of our apathy. What message are we sending when vital community organizations can’t attract members?
Beaumont was recently ranked #1 in the fastest growing cities in the Inland Empire, ranked by the percentage of population change 2005/2006. Percent of population change for Beaumont was 21.1%, while Temecula, Ranked #2, was with a 14.7% change.
Our elected officials are public servants. We are the public. It is their job to serve us well, and it is our job to see that they do. One way to accomplish this is to advocate the things we believe in and send the message loud and clear. We should all participate in this community for the same common goals. Change affects everyone and everything that the City Council approves will have an impact on the quality of your life either good or bad. BCRG is proud that we made our voices heard and made a difference: Some of the accomplishments we have made thus far are:
2004
Several neighbors concerned about the proposed hillside development of the Taurek property south of Beaumont shared costs and paid for an Environmental consultant to challenge the City’s Negative Declaration (meaning no impact). This project included over 240 homes on 130 acres of hillsides, which included 1-1 and 2-1 slopes. The report concluded that several CEQA requirements were violated. As a result, the developer was forced to do an Environmental Impact study.
BCRG participated in the Community Block Party by handing out literature on community concerns and accepting signatures on petitions for a Hillside Ordinance, Saving the Trees along Beaumont Avenue and the need for Televised City Council Meetings.
A web page was established for BCRG in order to get timely information to the public on proposed development and building in Beaumont. www.bcrg.org
2005
Members worked for months with the planning
commission, to write a Hillside Ordinance that would benefit and
protect citizen’s from the negative impacts of development on
the beautiful hillsides south of Beaumont. Unfortunately,
this Ordinance was rescinded by the City Council when opposition
was voiced regarding the need for a Cumulative Impact Study,
which would indicate the impact of each developer on each
other and determine the number of homes the hillsides
could safely support.
Sponsored a booth at the Cherry Festival and
distributed information concerning the proposed development in
Beaumont. Also we discussed citizen concerns, which will
be presented to the City Council in the future.
Opposed the new General Plan Draft that sought to
annex 5000 acres into the city including Jack Rabbit Trail (Shea
Homes), 224 residential acres with 2,000 dwelling units, The
Preserve (Rox Consulting) with 3, 412 dwelling units, and
Highland Crossing (Vista Community Planners) 430 dwelling
units. As a result, the annexation was reduced to 1200
acres and the General Plan was withdrawn for additional study.
Placed ad in the Press Enterprise calling for a
moratorium on building until the infrastructure could catch up
and collected signatures of citizens presented at the LAFCO
hearings.
2006
Members talked with several hundred Beaumont and
Cherry Valley citizens at area markets, who stated the need for
more commercial development, not more houses. As a result, we
voiced opposition to a proposed change by Sundance Builders, who
wanted to change the zoning on two of their properties from
commercial to high-density housing. Because of BCRG
opposition, Sundance developers were told that they had to stand
by their Specific Plan at least on one of the properties. While
the Beaumont City Council has stated many times that they are
pro-development, it was unusual for them to actually tell
a developer “No”.
Letters were sent to Congressional Representatives
indicating concerns with the inadequacies of the Beaumont Post
Office—specifically with parking and service. The current
Post Office was built in 1964 and was adequate for a population
of 5000 people. Since then the city has grown 400 % but
the Post Office is the same. We will continue to advocate
for an update in the Postal services for Beaumont’s citizens.
Members attended a Town Meeting hosted by the South
Coast Air Quality Management District to discuss air quality in
the Pass area with particular emphasis on the Wastewater
Treatment Plant and the City’s violation of California Health
and Safety Codes.
Informed local business owners near proposed
commercial development of possible concerns and instruction as
to how to oppose and or present concerns at the City Planning
Commission Meetings.
Represented the citizens of Beaumont at a LAFCO
Annexation hearing for Hidden Canyon development which had
requested 236 acres be annexed into Beaumont. The result
of this meeting was that only 36 acres were approved for
annexation. The 36 acres represent the headwaters of Potrero
Blvd at Hwy 60.
BCRG continues to work with the TUMF Commission to
align the proposed Potrero Blvd Bypass to connect with Highway
79 below California Avenue and not along the southern city
limits a short distance from 1st Street as suggested by the City
of Beaumont Planners. We have sent photos, engineering
studies and other information so that TUMF can make an informed
decision on this important traffic mitigation.
Our members stand united with CVAN (Cherry Valley
Acres and Neighbors) members, in opposing the annexation
of Cherry Valley into the City of Beaumont. Over 500 letters
were collected in opposition and the Planning Commission voted
to approve the annexation so one private landowner could develop
their property.
BCRG and CVAN members oppose giving away the
City’s wastewater treatment plant and reclaimed water project to
the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District. Members agree it
should go out for bid, as the water district has no
provisions in their by-laws or daily regime for water treatment.
Please join with us in our efforts to support the
quality of life that we all want for the Pass area’s citizens.
The Beaumont Planning Commission meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 PM in the Beaumont Civic Center – Room 5, 550 E. 6th Street. Anyone wishing to address the Planning Commission on any matter not on the agenda may do so during the Oral Communications portion of the agenda.
The Beaumont City Council meets every first and third Tuesday of the month
at 6:00 PM in Room 5 of the Civic Center at 550 E. 6th Street.
Anyone wishing to address the City Council on any matter not on
the agenda may do so during the oral communications portion of
the agenda.
The 2006 General Plan Impact Report will be discussed and
reviewed at the January 18th 2007 Beaumont Citizens For
Responsible Growth Meeting. We hear that Beaumont is being
modeled after Temecula. This report should help us to see how
they plan to mitigate or deal with the impacts.
Upon reviewing the report your letters to the council could make
a difference in their vote or changes to the report before it is
approved.+
BCRG opposed the City's Downtown Specific Plan because Urban
Logic Consultants refused to do a State CEQA required
Environmental Impact Report. We filed a lawsuit and the City
decided to withdraw the plan.
Discovered the City Manager, Alan Kapanicas, had purposefully
withheld Urban Logic's first amended contract dated Sept
27,1993, from our 2005 public records request. This contract
showed that ULC could bill the City for an additional 4.5% of
the confirmed construction cost of the public improvement to be
constructed. (See ULC contracts under Do You Know)
Your BCRG Neighbors