Baca Boosts Development
Cassie MacDuff10:00 PM PDT on Monday, September 12, 2011
Federal and state wildlife officials will tour the Lytle Creek wash with Rep. Joe Baca, D-Rialto, and developer Ron Pharris on Sept. 26 to gauge how much wildlife habitat should be set aside when an 8,400-home development is built.
Baca is helping Pharris' Lytle Development Co. fight environmental challenges to its massive tract, which already has prompted a lawsuit. A hearing is set for Sept. 30.
In a phone interview Monday, Baca said he believes environmental regulations are stifling development in Rialto and the rest of the Inland Empire.
Protections for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat and Southwestern willow fly catcher are hindering construction of the Lytle Creek Ranch project, he said.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar last month, he asked that the two creatures along with the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly, least Bell's vireo and Riversidean alluvial fan sage scrub be removed from the endangered species list.
"Now is the time when we need to create jobs and not hinder growth and development," Baca said Monday. "I think there can be room for both habitat and development."
It's not what you expect from a Democrat.
One environmentalist, Ileene Anderson of the Center for Biological Diversity, said Baca and others are using the economy as an excuse to undermine the Endangered Species Act.
Baca said Rialto needs to attract stores and restaurants for the city's tax base to compete with Victoria Gardens, Ontario Mills and other nearby centers.
He stepped into the fray between Pharris and two environmental groups, Save Lytle Creek Wash and the Endangered Habitats League, which have sued Rialto for approving the development. (Baca's son, Joe Jr., is a councilman.)
The groups want a judge to order revisions to the environmental study of traffic the project will cause, habitat and other issues.
Baca said he is helping Pharris with federal regulations. The developer must get U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval to build near sensitive habitat.
The congressman said he set up a meeting between Pharris and federal officials. The Sept. 26 meeting is a follow-up and will include state Fish and Game.
A compromise on how much land to set aside would be a "win-win for habitat and for Lytle Creek Development," Baca said.
The project was to be built around El Rancho Verde Country Club. But Pharris announced last month that the golf course was losing money and would close. Its clubhouse is a popular place for service group meetings, weddings and other events.
The course won a reprieve when employees launched a campaign to sign up 300 golfers at $150 month to keep it afloat. In two weeks, 80 people signed up, golf pro Justin Hernandez said.
But on Friday night, Pharris told managers he will shut the club down Sept. 30, laying off 40 employees.
An avid golfer, Baca said he hopes Pharris will allow employees more time to recruit members. Pharris didn't return my calls Monday seeking comment.
Cassie MacDuff can be reached at 951-368-9470 or cmacduff@PE.com
1 comment:
You know BACA says he lives in Rialto, but in reality since he has been elected he lives elsewhere more then he lives in Rialto!! The implication that the housing would bring in Businesses, well why don't we put his thoughts to work and see.. after all The City of Rialto has had a city street and connecting Streets that were developed out of the construction of the 210 Freeway. Easton Ave, and Chapparal Ave. both have been developed and are clear of businesses on either side all the way through Rialto with the exception of the area's that Previously were Devloped, prior to the Construction. The Rialto City Council has done nothing or it appears that nothing has been done to promote businesses to build or start on these streets, whith which all of those streets have great access to the 210 Freeway!! But still One Gas Station/Convenience Store is not a flurry of Businesses bing built..
The Development Surrounding the El Ranchio Verde Country Club, will do nothing but pad the pockets of those building/Selling land. They will bring in all of people that will make the Country Club and Undesirable area to live, due to the increased Population, which will bring huge amounts of Conjestion in a small area. LETS NOT FORGET THAT THE CRIME RATE IN THE COUNTRY CLUB AREA WILL INCREASE TWO MAYBE THREE TIMES WHAT IT IS NOW!!
When you add 12 to 20 thousand people into these small houses, then you will end up with an APARTMENT STYLE LIVING!! As Everyone Knows, APARTMENT LIVING BREEDS MORE CRIME!!
If Business is what Baca wants then let him get with his Son on The Rialto City Council, to work to get the Rialto Renaissance Development off the ground again. then we will think about houses, but not like the Development Brother's have figured out.. it is to much to close, to Congested, and the crime rate will rise just like the impatience of all those people forced to live so close to one another!!!
BACA WAKE UP!! GET YOUR HAND OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT BROTHER'S POCKET'S AND VOTE AS IF YOU STILL LIVED HERE IN THE I.E.
BS.Ranch
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