🚨 UPDATE: Banning City Council Postpones Sunset Crossroads Amendment Decision Until October 27
The public hearing will continue on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
At the October 13 City Council meeting, the Council announced that it would postpone its decision on the proposed Sunset Crossroads Specific Plan amendment until October 27 because information was missing from an attachment to the staff report that members felt was necessary to help the public understand the matter.
Despite postponing its decision, the Council proceeded with hearing public comments on the proposed amendment during the October 13 meeting.
The Council did not approve the amendment.
⚠️ WHAT BANNING VOTERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND
The proposed amendment would prohibit four types of facilities within the Sunset Crossroads development:
- Data centers
- ICE detention facilities
- Stand-alone battery energy storage systems (BESS)
- Cold storage facilities
However, the proposed amendment has not been approved. The existing ordinances and project documents remain important when evaluating what is permitted under the approved project framework.
The proposed amendment seeks to change which uses are permitted under the existing project documents. Until the amendment is approved, these proposed prohibitions are not in effect.
It is also important to distinguish between what the project documents permit and what the developer has committed to build. A permitted use does not necessarily mean that a facility will be built.
🗳️ WHY THE TIMING MATTERS
During the October 13 meeting, residents raised concerns about the timing of the Council’s decision, including whether it should be postponed until November 10, after the November 3 election.
The concern is that the Council is considering an amendment to the Sunset Crossroads project while Banning voters are deciding the measures associated with the project’s approvals.
The Council instead scheduled the continued public hearing for October 27, just one week before Election Day.
The amendment remains pending, and the Council has not yet made its decision.
📢 WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
1. Read the staff report or watch the October 13 City Council meeting.
The staff report provided for the October 13 meeting is available here:
You can also watch the October 13 City Council meeting here:
OCTOBER 13TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING RECORDING
The Council cited missing information in an attachment as the reason for postponing its decision. It is currently unclear whether the missing information has been added to the city’s online agenda packet.
2. Check the October 27 agenda packet.
Look for updated materials related to the proposed amendment, including the attachment the Council referenced during the October 13 meeting.
3. Attend the continued public hearing.
📅 Tuesday, October 27, 2026
🕔 5:00 p.m.
Residents can hear the continued discussion and learn whether the Council will approve, reject, or take further action on the proposed amendment.
4. Share this update.
Help other Banning residents understand that the amendment has not been approved and that the decision is scheduled for the week before Election Day.
Our community deserves clear, accurate information about what the project documents permit, what the proposed amendment would change, and what restrictions are actually in effect.
Please share this update so Banning residents can make informed decisions on November 3.