Community workshops were conducted in each community as part of the engagement process. In addition, input was gathered through the Countywide Plan website. As part of the process, participants defined the strengths of and opportunities for their community. The word cloud was created using the input provided during the Strengths, Opportunities, Values and Aspirations exercises and served as part of the base information utilized to develop the Focus and Action Statements of the Community Action Guide. The word cloud quickly informed participants of key issues and focus areas that could be addressed in the guide. The more a word or phrase was articulated, the larger the word appears in the cloud. The full results of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats gathered as a part of the engagement process is found in the Community Profile.

The Values are those shared assets, principles, standards, mores, and in the judgment of the community, what is important in the lives of its residents and businesses. A community’s values are an important consideration in shaping its aspirations, focus and actions.

As a community we value:

• Rural Desert Lifestyle. Homestead Valley residents value the rural lifestyle and character of the area, which includes wide open spaces and stretches of unpaved roads, fresh air, dark night skies, and a peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
• Independence. Homestead Valley residents value the independent nature of the community – rugged individualism, the freedom to live the way they choose, self-sufficiency, and privacy.
• Natural Environment. Homestead Valley residents value the natural beauty that defines the desert, including magnificent landscapes, wildlife, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and living within nature.
• Conservation and Preservation. Homestead Valley residents see themselves as stewards of the environment and value the wise use of water, protection of natural resources, and the natural landscape.
• Community. Homestead Valley residents value the “sense of community” that living in the same place with friendly, helpful, likeminded people provides.

The community profile is a summary of the social, cultural, economic, and historic dimensions of Homestead Valley Communities. It presents data collected through secondary sources to inform future actions. The profile, together with future studies and information gathered from residents, highlights essential facets and “tells the story” of the Homestead Valley Communities.

2019 Community Profile (opens in a new window)

The high desert attracts people for many reasons and despite the drawbacks of rural living, the residents of Homestead Valley choose to live here because of the natural beauty, wide open spaces, fresh air, dark skies, and the peaceful and quiet atmosphere. These important characteristics remain unchanged even as the community continues to grow and evolve. Homestead Valley is also a place of rugged individualism, where residents are afforded the freedom and privacy to live the life they want to live within the expansiveness of the natural desert environment.

Water availability is a critical element to life in Homestead Valley with the prosperity of the community dependent upon access to adequate water supplies. A water management committee consisting of community members is set up to ensure the sustainability of community water supplies and to provide input to the County of San Bernardino on solutions to water accessibility, with hauled water and other solutions remaining options. The community has a formal way to notify the County of other infrastructure issues such as damaged roads or electricity delivery problems, improving service times and helping to make the community function more efficiently.

State Route 247 provides Homestead Valley with a transportation backbone that vitally links the four communities of Yucca Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Landers, and Johnson Valley. The historic significance and natural scenic beauty of the highway are irrefutable, as recognized by the official designation of State Route 247 as a Scenic Highway. As part of the designation, a Corridor Protection Program protects and enhances the scenic resources along the highway. Land uses and activities that could negatively impact the scenic value of the highway are prevented from encroaching into the corridor and the interest generated by the Scenic Highway designation draws more tourists to the area. As a result, the designation enhances the quality of life for Homestead Valley residents while encouraging economic growth within the community.

Although the Homestead Valley Communities are separated by expanses of open desert, the residents of Homestead Valley overcame any lack of cohesion by building off of their common traits – friendly, helpful, resourceful people – to bring the community closer together through local events, activities, social functions, and art shows. The use of social media keeps Homestead Valley residents “in the know” and provides an easy way for neighbors to stay connected. These efforts have helped to strengthen the sense of community within Homestead Valley.

1. IN PROCESS: Advocate for San Bernardino County to adopt and enforce “Dark Skies” requirements for buildings and outdoor lighting to minimize light pollution.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. Collaborate with San Bernardino County Land Use Services to develop and adopt design guidelines that reflect the unique characteristics of the community, and will lead to residential and nonresidential buildings that are compatible to the architectural style within Homestead Valley.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. Protect open space areas in Homestead Valley by acquiring land or conservation easements, and limiting the use of these spaces to low-impact recreation such as hiking and trail biking.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

4. IN PROCESS: Collaborate with San Bernardino County Land Use Services as it develops a draft short-term rental ordinance for the County.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

5. Advocate to San Bernardino County Land Use Services to review the Rural Residential zoning in Homestead Valley, and revise the zoning designation as needed to be more responsive to community values and priorities, including preventing large-scale industrial and solar developments.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

6. Establish financing mechanisms, which may include low or no-interest revolving loans, property-assessed programs, and grant programs, to rehabilitate properties in Homestead Valley.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

1. Prepare a community flash flood protection plan, identifying the areas that are most vulnerable to flash floods and developing strategies to make the community more resilient to these events.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. IN PROCESS: Host regular community clean-ups of trash and illegal dumping on public land and in public rights-of-way.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. IN PROCESS: Support the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Department Citizens on Patrol program by assisting with volunteer recruitment to increase patrols and to monitor vacant properties for any issues, e.g., trespassing, illegal dumping.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

4. Advocate for the reactivation of Fire Station #43 in Johnson Valley and research state and federal grant funding opportunities along with local fundraising efforts and other strategies to assist with funding operation of the Fire Station.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

1. Work with regional medical institutions, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, and community groups to establish a mobile medical center that visits Homestead Valley on a regular basis.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED: Work with local utilities to provide higher-speed Internet access for Homestead Valley residents, including broadband internet (20Mbps or higher), free public hotspots, and improved cell phone reception.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. Increase the number of rooftop solar photovoltaic installations through incentive programs and financing mechanisms, changes to building and design codes to easily allow these installations, and educational campaigns about the benefits of rooftop solar.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

4. Explore establishing a community-scale water distribution system to replace hauled water, provided that the water is affordable and sourced responsibly.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

1. IN PROCESS: Achieve Scenic Highway designation for State Route 247.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. Partner with Caltrans and the County on a project to install new and more readable street name signs and street markings to improve navigation and restore degraded existing street signs and markings as needed.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. Collaborate with the Morongo Basin Transit Authority to improve transit in Homestead Valley, including new or extended routes, increases in bus frequency, and longer operating hours as appropriate.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

4. Improve roadways in Homestead Valley to meet the needs of community members and visitors while preserving the desert landscape and rural character.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

1. Develop a marketing and branding strategy for Homestead Valley to promote community identity and visitor attractions.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. Promote the seasonal wildflower blooms in and around Homestead Valley.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. In partnership with surrounding communities and landowners, establish trails for off-highway vehicles (OHVs). Promote and encourage the responsible use of OHVs through signs, amenities, and educational campaigns while advocating with local and federal agencies to prohibit OHV use that threatens sensitive natural environments or local quality of life.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

4. Partner with the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency to support local business ownership and investment to attract new small businesses and to enable growth of existing small businesses that are consistent with the community.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

5. Work with local businesses and the Economic Development Agency to identify barriers to small business establishment and growth in Homestead Valley, and develop ways to reduce or eliminate these barriers.

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

1. Improve communication between the County and community members (including the Homestead Valley Community Council) through regular public meetings and other events.*Improve communication between the County and community members (including the Homestead Valley Community Council) through regular public meetings and other events.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

2. Prepare a welcome packet to distribute to all new community members and businesses with information about Homestead Valley.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix

3. Coordinate with officials in the Town of Yucca Valley on issues of mutual importance to both communities.*

   >>Download PDF Action Matrix