Policies

1. Policy LU-4.8 Public gathering spaces

   We require the development of safe and attractive public gathering spaces that facilitate social interaction, community events, and physical activity in master planned communities, large residential developments, and large commercial developments.

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2. Policy LU-4.9 CPTED

   We require public gathering spaces to use CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) principles and ensure sufficient access for public safety services.

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3. Policy LU-6.4 Industrial amendments near schools and parks

   We approve Land Use Plan amendments for new industrial development only if they are at least one-half mile from an existing or planned public primary or secondary school or public park. We may waive this requirement for obsolete school or park sites or for industrial amendments submitted through a specific plan.

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Policies

1. Policy H-1.3 Income-restricted multifamily

   Where infrastructure and public services are available, we encourage the production of affordable multifamily housing by providing assistance and incentives for projects that include new affordable units reserved for lower income, moderate income, or special needs households.

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2. Policy H-3.1 Public Services, amenities, and safety

   We support the provision of adequate and fiscally sustainable public services, infrastructure, open space, non-motorized transportation routes, and public safety for neighborhoods in the unincorporated area.

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Goals

1. Goal IU-5 Power and Communications

   Unincorporated area residents and businesses have access to reliable power and communication systems

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Policies

1. Policy TM-4.2 Complete streets improvements

   We evaluate the feasibility of installing elements of complete street improvements when planning roadway improvements in mobility focus areas, and we require new development to contribute to complete street improvements in mobility focus areas. In evaluating complete street improvements, we prioritize those in mobility focus areas that are within unincorporated environmental justice focus areas.

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2. Policy TM-5.6 Unincorporated truck routes

   We establish local truck routes in unincorporated areas to efficiently funnel truck traffic to freeways while minimizing impacts on residents. We establish routes where trucks are prohibited in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas and to avoid overlaps or conflicts with safe routes to schools.

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Policies

1. Policy HW-1.12 Equity

   We monitor and seek to achieve equitable access to County health and social services, with an emphasis on environmental justice focus areas countywide.

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2. Policy HW-3.7 Attracting local-serving businesses

   We actively work across County departments and agencies to attract businesses that provide desired goods and services in unincorporated communities, especially in environmental justice focus areas, including but not limited to food stores with fresh produce, health care, child care, pharmacies, and other retailers. We balance community desires with comprehensive assessments of market demand to guide our business attraction efforts.

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Policies

1. Policy HZ-3.1 Health Risk Assessment

   We require projects processed by the County to provide a health risk assessment when a project could potentially increase the incremental cancer risk by 10 in 1 million or more in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas, and we require such assessments to evaluate impacts of truck traffic from the project to freeways. We establish appropriate mitigation prior to the approval of new construction, rehabilitation, or expansion permits.

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2. Policy HZ-3.2 Studying and monitoring

   We coordinate with state and regional regulatory entities to monitor pollution exposure, publicize pollution data, and identify solutions in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas. We work with state and regional regulatory entities to pursue grant funding to study cumulative health risks affecting such areas.

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3. Policy HZ-3.3 Community Emissions Reduction Plans

   We assist the air quality management districts in establishing community emissions reduction plans for unincorporated environmental justice focus areas and implement, as feasible, those parts of the plans, that are within the jurisdiction and authority of the County, with particular emphasis in addressing the types of pollution identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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4. Policy HZ-3.4 Residential Improvements

   In directing discretionary housing improvements investments in unincorporated communities, we encourage and prioritize investments that also address environmental conditions identified in the Hazard Element tables. We utilize code enforcement activities to enhance structural safety and property maintenance in environmental justice focus areas.

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5. Policy HZ-3.5 Hazardous waste facilities

   We do not permit new hazardous waste facilities to be developed in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas.

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6. Policy HZ-3.6 Contaminated water and soils

   We advocate for and coordinate with local and regional agencies in efforts to remediate or treat contaminated surface water, groundwater, or soils in or affecting unincorporated environmental justice focus areas. We pursue grant funding and establish partnerships to implement the County’s Site Remediation Program in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas, with particular emphasis in addressing the types of contamination identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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7. Policy HZ-3.7 Well Water Testing

   In unincorporated environmental justice focus areas that are not served by public water systems, we periodically test well water for contamination, identify potential funding sources, and, where feasible, provide technical assistance to implement necessary improvements, with particular emphasis in addressing the types of contamination identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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8. Policy HZ-3.8 Indoor Air Quality

   We educate and raise awareness in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas about indoor air quality, and we pursue grant funding to address asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

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9. Policy HZ-3.9 Public improvements and services

   In directing discretionary investments in County provided public facilities, infrastructure, and services in unincorporated communities, we prioritize investments that also address environmental conditions identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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10. Policy HZ- 3.10 Multi use facilities

    We emphasize coordination efforts for joint use of public and private recreation facilities serving unincorporated environmental justice focus areas. We encourage that newly constructed or substantially remodeled public facilities serving unincorporated environmental justice focus areas be assessed and designed for features and spaces that improve the community’s access to physical activity and/or healthy food options, as feasible and appropriate to the needs of the community.

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11. Policy HZ-3.11 Public Health

    We utilize County Department of Public Health experience, expertise, and staffing resources to expand and improve outreach, community engagement, analysis, and implementation efforts in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas, with particular emphasis in addressing the types of health concerns identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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12. Policy HZ-3.12 Barriers to physical activity

    We prioritize identification of appropriate remedies to improve and remove, where feasible, barriers to outdoor physical activity, such as inadequate infrastructure, when doing County projects in environmental justice focus areas, with particular emphasis in addressing the types of health and mobility issues identified in the Hazard Element tables.

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13. Policy HZ-3.13 Safe routes to school

    We work with our regional transportation authority, school districts and local law enforcement to ensure that schools have safe walking and bicycling routes to school. In applying for Safe Routes to School grants, we will prioritize schools that are either located in the environmental justice focus areas, or serve children residing in environmental justice focus areas.

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14. Policy HZ-3.14 Community desired improvements

    We assist unincorporated environmental justice focus areas to identify ways in which they might establish special funding and financing mechanisms to provide community‐desired public facilities and services, recreational facilities, sidewalks and bike trails, and access to fresh and healthy food.

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15. Policy HZ-3.15 Food access

    We increase access to healthy food in underserved areas by promoting local food production, community gardens, and urban farms in agricultural zoning districts or on vacant or underutilized lands. We also encourage existing and new small grocery or convenience stores to sell fresh foods in underserved areas. We require the County Healthy Communities Program to prioritize environmental justice communities for technical assistance and grant making, and ensure that residents of environmental justice communities are provided educational materials related to food assistance programs, healthy eating habits and food choices.

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16. Policy HZ- 3.16 Notification

    We notify the public through the County website, mail, and other means when applications are accepted for conditional use permits, changes in zoning, and Policy Plan amendments in or adjacent to environmental justice focus areas. We prepare public notices in the predominant language(s) spoken in the communities containing environmental justice focus areas.

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17. Policy HZ-3.17 Community stakeholders

    We identify and coordinate with key community stakeholders through advisory committees or other methods to increase public awareness and obtain timely community input concerning potential funding opportunities, conditional use permits, changes in zoning, and amendments to the Policy Plan in or adjacent to environmental justice focus areas.

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18. Policy HZ-3.18 Application requirements

    In order for a Planning Project Application (excluding Minor Use Permits) to be deemed complete, we require applicants to indicate whether the project is within, adjacent to, or nearby an unincorporated environmental justice focus area and, if so, to:

    • document to the County’s satisfaction how an applicant will address environmental justice concerns potentially created by the project; and
    • present a plan to conduct at least two public meetings for nearby residents, businesses, and property owners to obtain public input for applications involving a change in zoning or the Policy Plan. The County will require additional public outreach if the proposed project changes substantively in use, scale, or intensity from the proposed project presented at previous public outreach meeting(s).
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19. Policy HZ-3.19 Community education

    We make educational materials available to the public in unincorporated environmental justice focus areas so that they clearly understand the potential for adverse pollution, noise, odor, vibration, and lighting and glare, and the effects of toxic materials to promote civil engagement. We require that such educational materials be developed in accordance with Plain Language Guidelines. We require that this information be made available in public spaces such as libraries and community centers, as well as on County websites and other appropriate means.

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20. Policy HZ-3.20 Updating EJFAs.

    We update the assessment of boundaries, issues, policies, objectives, and implementation strategies regarding environmental justice focus areas subsequent to updates in CalEnviroScreen, equivalent state tools, or as the County deems necessary.

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21. Policy HZ-3.21 Emerging pollutants

    For pollutants that do not yet have established regulatory thresholds, we coordinate with regulatory agencies to assist their efforts to monitor pollutant levels, establish thresholds, and identify funding and mitigation options, particularly for pollutants that are found in environmental justice focus areas.

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Related Materials

1. Policy Maps HZ-10 Environmental Justice & Legacy Communities (PDF | WEB)

1. FOCUS STATEMENT D - Grow the local economy in a manner consistent with the rural desert character

   Action Statement D.6

   Explore opportunities to strengthen the Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce, partner with the Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce to coordinate business attraction, marketing, and business support activities.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT A - Increase recreational opportunities to enhance the quality of life in Muscoy

   Action Statement A.2

   Coordinate with nonprofits, local business, and institutional partners to identify resources to purchase adjacent vacant lots and convert them to parks.

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   Action Statement A.3

   Establish joint-use agreements with Muscoy Elementary School and the PAL Center for the community to utilize existing soccer fields and green spaces.

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2. FOCUS STATEMENT B - Encourage community involvement in civic beautification and maintaining the community’s rural character

   Action Statement B.1

   Establish a community cleanup program utilizing local youth organizations to clean up trash, debris, and weeds in the Muscoy community at least four times a year.

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3. FOCUS STATEMENT C - Improve public and equestrian safety within Muscoy

   Action Statement C.1

   Increase participation in the neighborhood watch program throughout the community.

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   Action Statement C.2

   Coordinate with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to establish a Citizen Patrol.

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   Action Statement C.3

   Partner with the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, County Fire Department, local safety experts, and insurance companies to educate property owners on securing homes and businesses.

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   Action Statement C.4

   Establish a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.

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   Action Statement C.5

   Identify existing and potential horse and pedestrian trails with a community-sponsored wayfinding program.

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4. FOCUS STATEMENT D - Encourage home-grown businesses and small enterprises that provide jobs and economic development opportunities to Muscoy residents

   Action Statement D.3

   Encourage means and champions to develop a food-based small businesses support system with links to capacity building and training on issues such as compliance, health and safety, business planning financial management, and marketing.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT A - Improve the quality of the community to enhance the quality of life for citizens

   Action Statement A.1

   Collaborate with County Code Enforcement to address illegal dumping and sub-standard housing.

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   Action Statement A.3

   Collaborate with County Public Health Department to provide healthcare services for the residents.

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