Community Win

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official statement below

〰️

Community Win 〰️ official statement below 〰️

Official SBAC Statement

After months of empowering, informing and organizing community members, we rejoice in the Inland Valley Development Agency’s (IVDA) announcement that they will not move forward with the Airport Gateway Specific Plan (AGSP). The AGSP was a project that would have displaced thousands of residents in both Highland and San Bernardino, the project is an example of outdated zoning and infrastructure that would’ve accelerated the creation of poverty level employment, taken away much needed housing from residents in the project zone and added to the already severely high levels of air pollution the region suffers from. 


As a coalition the SBAC will continue the fight for the housing rights for those in the project zone, continue to build local leadership that holds all city elected officials accountable for poor planning and continue to monitor for future development that must be held to higher standards. We want to ensure community voices are lifted and that projects include transparent and meaningful community engagement from start to finish ensuring residents have an opportunity to ask for community necessities when being pushed out by industry.

Airport Gateway Specific Plan - AGSP

The cities of San Bernardino and Highland have had a plan around this development for years- our communities are excluded from these decisions and positioned to experience the harms of profit-rooted land use without any say.

What is this Development?

We are focused on gaining what we can in the short time remaining to protect people facing displacement and also those who will be living or working in the area affected by new warehouse development.

We are not opposed to all development, we want this development to benefit those who live here, and to make sure those who are here have a say and appropriate compensation as this process moves forward. We look forward to engaging the cities and Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) to make sure this process engages those who are most impacted.

Our communities want to see protections put in place to protect nearby residents from proposed pollution from the developments, renter and land owner protections and job standards. These proposals should be included before the environmental review process begins. 

Key Project Details (AGSP)

  • The Airport Gateway Specific Plan (AGSP) is the rezoning of 679 acres of land in San Bernardino and Highland. 

  • 30 ft - 100 ft from schools and homes

  • Exposure to more pollution

  • Rezoning residential to industrial this could mean changing family homes to potential warehouses

 

The San Bernardino Airport Communities is incredibly concerned about the Airport Gateway Specific Plan (AGSP) and we believe that necessary adjustments to the plan are needed before moving forward with approval:

    • A hearing/townhall in the City of San Bernardino and City of Highland

    • Interpretation and translation available at all future meetings and the materials

    • Increased flyers, mailers, notice, etc in non-English speaking communities, such as Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, etc.

    • Scale back the size of the project. Do not rezone the residential communities that live near Indian Springs High School

    • Consistent environmental monitoring of impacts of the AGSP

    • Limits on idling of trucks and cars

    • Requirement of maintenance of homes

    • Use transitional zoning to buffer industrial development from residential development

      • Restrict warehouse development to areas closest to the San Bernardino Airport so that it does not go farther west than Del Rosa Dr. and north of 5th Street

      • Buffer homes, schools and parks from truck routes and pollution intensive warehouse development with other types of development such as retail, light industrial, etc

        • At least 1,000 ft distance

    • Explore building a truck rest area where truckers have a cool area to rest, charge their truck that is not adjacent to any homes, schools, parks, etc

    • Do not allow truck routes next to homes, schools and parks or on residential streets such as Del Rosa Dr. and Central Ave

    • Require 100% zero emissions by 2035, with a transition plan with intermittent goals

    • Require offset carbon capture mitigation measures, such as land acquisition for carbon storage and mitigation

    • Require more green space, native plants and trees throughout the AGSP

    • Working group meetings for relocation planning

    • Replacement housing for any displaced renters or homeowners in AGSP

    • Tenants should be notified about any proposed offer to homeowners within 72 hours

    • Priority housing relocation to any new or existing affordable housing being built

    • Using any surplus land that the City has should be used towards affordable housing

    • Follow the California Relocation Assistance Act

      • As a tenant you are relocated to a home similar to the one you are being displaced from

      • If you cannot be relocated to a home similar to yours, the tenant is entitled to relocation assistance (reasonable expenses in moving) to assist them with the effects of being displaced from their home.

      • Rent differential not to exceed $5,250 for up to 42 months

      • A homeowner is given actual and reasonable moving expenses covered and a payment of $22,500, to assist you with obtaining a comparable replacement home

    • Community fund that goes to home and street repair

    • Rent control based on income

    • Respect all tenants unions

    • Require living wage and benefits standards (such as employer sponsored retirement plans)

    • Limit the use of temporary agency hires

    • Required local hire and use of community workforce agreements

    • Ensure high road employers

    • Required training pathways and apprenticeship program with local labor unions and worker centers

    • Full-time positions prioritized

    • Diversify the types of industries that will be approved in the AGSP

    • Infrastructure maintenance (potholes, sewage, flooding, etc)

    • Walkable, bikeable and safe street design to prevent any future pedestrian accidents

    • Community benefits agreement with future large projects

    • Establishment of an oversight committee that can negotiate and ensure accountability for the implementation of community benefits agreements

    • An EIR is done on any future projects

Community Documentary by Pitzer College Students

 

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