Important Sunset Crossroads Hearing Wednesday 9/2 and Quick Referendum Election Update

From Kathleen Dale, San Gorgonio Pass Alliance A public hearing on amendments to the Sunset Crossroads Specific Plan is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2 at 5:30 p.m. before the Banning Planning Commission. Please make your voice heard by attending the hearing or submitting written comments to the Planning Commission. There is an important issue the City's public notice doesn't explain clearly: the Sunset Crossroads Specific Plan has never gone into effect. When the City Council approved the Specific Plan, Resolution 2026-29 specifically stated that it would become effective only when Ordinance 1620 — the Sunset Crossroads Development Agreement — became effective. But Ordinance 1620 is now Measure W. The successful referendum suspended the ordinance, and Banning voters will decide its fate in November. That means the resolution approving the Specific Plan is also not yet effective. So there is an obvious question: How can the City amend a Specific Plan that has never taken effect? The timing also raises questions. The Planning Commission hearing is September 2, and the staff report identifies October 13 for City Council consideration — just weeks before voters decide Measure W. Why is the City trying to amend the plan while voters are deciding whether a key part of that plan should take effect at all? Please attend Wednesday's hearing if you can. If you cannot attend, please submit written comments to the Planning Commission. The attached official hearing notice has information about the meeting location, remote participation, and how to submit comments. The Planning Commission staff report is available here: https://d2kbkoa27fdvtw.cloudfront.net/banningca/8fec97875ed2964126a33669638a7cea0.html On the election front, the arguments and rebuttals that will appear in the voter guide have been filed with the City. The public inspection period for the rebuttals runs through September 8th. Look for an update on the election shortly after September 8th.