🚨 BANNING CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, AT 5 PM

📢 Your voice matters. Please attend or submit written comments!

On Tuesday, October 13, at 5:00 PM, the Banning City Council will consider a proposed amendment to the Sunset Crossroads Specific Plan that would prohibit several uses, including:

• Data centers
• ICE detention centers
• Stand-alone battery energy storage systems
• Cold storage facilities

This follows the Planning Commission hearing held on September 2.

📄 WHERE TO FIND THE MEETING MATERIALS

The staff report and supporting documents are available under Item 7.1 of the October 13, 2026, City Council meeting agenda. The public hearing notice, including instructions for submitting written comments, is included as Attachment 5 to the staff report.

⚠️ WHY THE TIMING OF THIS HEARING IS CONCERNING
1. The Sunset Crossroads Specific Plan is suspended by the referendum.

With the Specific Plan suspended, why is the City proceeding with an amendment to its permitted uses? The timing raises important questions about the purpose and appropriateness of considering these changes before voters have had their say.

2. This proposal concerns a matter pending a public vote.

Banning residents are preparing to vote on the future of Sunset Crossroads. Moving forward with changes to the Specific Plan while this matter is pending a public vote raises serious concerns about the process and respect for the democratic rights of the community.

3. Whose concerns receive special consideration?

The staff report references extraordinary efforts to provide notice to the Sun Lakes Homeowners Association.

But what about the two neighborhoods along Sunset Avenue that are substantially impacted by this ill-sited project?

Why weren’t comparable efforts made to ensure these directly affected residents received the same level of notice and consideration?

Residents deserve transparency, equitable treatment, and a meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions that affect their neighborhoods and quality of life.

🗣️ PLEASE MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON OCTOBER 13!
There are several ways you can participate:

📍 ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, October 13, at 5:00 PM.  99 East Ramsey Street

• Speak during public comment to express your concerns.
• Support your friends and neighbors who choose to speak.
• Show up so Council members can see the community members who are paying attention to these decisions.

✉️ SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS

If you cannot attend in person, please consider submitting written comments. Instructions are provided in the public hearing notice, Attachment 5 to the staff report, under Item 7.1 of the October 13 City Council meeting agenda.

Email to: 

cityclerks@banningca.gov, rroyce@banningca.gov, cbarrington@banningca.gov, lmiller@banningca.gov, cwallace@banningca.gov, sflynn@banningca.gov

🤝 YOUR PRESENCE MATTERS. YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

Decisions about Sunset Crossroads will have lasting consequences for Banning and its residents. Our community deserves a fair, transparent process that respects the referendum and the public’s right to weigh in on the future of this project.

Please attend, submit comments, and encourage your neighbors to participate.

Let’s remind our City Council that Banning residents are paying attention—and that our voices deserve to be heard.