Thank you to everyone for signing #saveflamingoheights so far and continuing to spread the word! We will use these updates as a forum to continue to inform everyone about where this project is going (or rather, NOT going-hopefully).
Next Steps should be to submit your comments to the County directly! Comments to the County are being taken until April 26; it is VERY important that they get flooded with comments right now so that our voices are considered in the review process. Make sure to include the Project and Parcel Numbers (Project # PROJ-2020-00191 on Parcel # 0629-181-01). As we learned from an informational and motivating community meeting yesterday eve, it is MOST IMPORTANT that your comments be substantive, meaning they should include specific details about harms directly related to this development. Please also be respectful in your comments so that our voices are listened to!
You can send the first round of your comments to:
SMC Contract Planner Jim Morrissey -
Email: jim.morrissey@lus.sbcounty.gov
Phone: 909.387.4234
Fax: 909.387.3223
Third district supervisor Dawn Rowe -
Email: supervisor.rowe@bos.county.gov
contact sheet: https://bosd3.sbcounty.gov/contact-information/
HERE ARE SOME TALKING POINTS YOU CAN INCLUDE AGAINST FLAMINGO 640 - THE FLAMINGO EIGHTS FESTIVAL & GLAMPING DEVELOPMENT:
- BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
- this is a habitat for endangered species and those in concern, e.g the desert tortoise! the Western Joshua Tree (which is also on the state protected list, not only county), burrowing owl, etc.
- we need to protect even the surrounding vegetation in order for the Joshua Trees to thrive.
- apparently Ed LaRue of the Desert Tortoise Council surveyed this exact property in 2006 (data may be out of date); his survey proved that there are significant wildlife resources on this exact parcel and the west bank of the wash is an excellent desert tortoise habitat - PUBLIC/TRAFFIC SAFETY - addressing traffic fatalities in the area off the 247 as a result of additional overcrowding; Caltrans or CHP may have this information
- FIRE - fire pits are proposed in this development; will they be monitored? what will people be burning? not only concern for fires but also environmental air pollution (i.e. burning trash/chemically treated wood)
- AIR QUALITY - dust/vehicle emissions/fires - get specific!
- SEISMIC ISSUES - there is an active fault running through this site, which should be considered with a project that includes a music venue (stacked speakers!!) and buildings such as a tourist shop, restaurant/bar etc.
- NOISE - bad for wildlife and people living nearby; it is on a wash after all which carries sound
- LIGHT POLLUTION - for wildlife and people living nearby
- WASTE + WATER DISPOSAL - where will this all go?
- WATER USE - California and the desert are continually in a drought!
- ECONOMIC ISSUES + LITIGATION - expenses and years of lawsuits against the developer on a land that includes precious desert wildlife and a land with a faultline would cause expenses and years of headaches - so it would not even be a good idea to develop here in the first place; more financial burden than it's worth
- ALTERNATIVES - what does this area need instead of a glamping resort? i.e. suggesting an NPO like Mojave Desert Land Trust purchasing the land instead; fyi MDLT is aware of this parcel
Let's work together to prove that a glamping site is not the fate of this land and community.
Below is what one of our community members sent out. Please feel free to use as a base and cut and paste and expound at will, this is from some talking points mentioned in the meeting last night -
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NO ON THE 'FLAMINGO 640 GLAMPING RESORT' PROPOSED PROJECT!!!!!
Project # PROJ-2020-00191 on Parcel # 0629-181-01
The devastating environmental impact on this pristine wildlife corridor would be immense, destroying habitat for protected and endangered species such as the Western Joshua Tree, Desert Tortoise, and Burrowing Owl.
The development will also have severe negative impacts on fire safety (70 campfires in the desert with the areas constant high winds?), Public Safety (247 is a two lane highway, that stretch has a history of being very dangerous as is with a high count of deadly collisions and blind curves), air quality (car exhaust, campfires), and noise pollution (this area is zoned for rural residential, and with the very quiet environment, a loud music venue such as this would be very impactful, not to mention the sound impact of a helipad that will be heard for miles).
Where will the water come from for this development? How will the development deal with waste water and trash?
This project is short sighted, dangerous, and does nothing to help our Flamingo Heights community or local ecosystem.
THIS VERY FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED AND PROTECTED.
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a moment to send comments to Dawn Rowe and Jim Morrissey and sign and share the petition at - change.org/saveflamingoheights
Other updates:
The developers of this project are applying for this site with a "conditional use permit," meaning that they would not have to adhere to the rural living zone codes and restrictions this site has been designated.
Attached is a graphic to use on social media and share.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.