Advocacy UpdatesMeasure L Creates Jobs and Balanced Growth for CommunityChamber-supported measure heads to ballot this upcoming November
In the final push to the November election, the Chamber urges voters to support Measure L, the Citizens' Initiative for the Permanent Preservation of La Sierra Hills and Restricted Development of La Sierra Lands, which will modernize planning regulations for the La Sierra Hills to permanently protect the hills as open space while allowing for thoughtful planning and restricted development on the remaining La Sierra Lands. The measure is headed to the November ballot to coincide with Riverside’s smart growth plan, and to permanently protect the hills as open space.
There are 1,300 acres of open land space in the Rancho La Sierra and La Sierra Hills region. Current law allows residential development to occur across the entire open land. The Citizens for Balanced Growth Initiative would amend the current land use ordinance, Proposition R and Measure C in the La Sierra area. More specifically, it would repeal outdated planning regulations that currently allow for development of the La Sierra Hills and permanently protect those hills as open space while restricting development on the remaining La Sierra property adjacent to the Santa Ana River. The Chamber supported this measure as a means to provide more opportunities for Riverside residents to enjoy the property, including a site for a future school, public parks and trails, as well as the preservation of approximately 250 acres of the property. The blueprint is laid out to construct housing within the rezoned 400 acres of this land, and permanently keep the remaining 900 acres of land open as public space. This portion of the project will stimulate job growth, provide tax revenues, and create new homes for Riverside residents. The original intent for the Rancho La Sierra and La Sierra Hills land was to “preserve, protect, and promote citrus and agricultural uses” in the area. Currently, this land is not fulfilling this intent; the land cannot be used in this manner due to distance away from the Gage Canal that draws water from the Santa Ana River. Riverside, however, has committed to keep its agricultural roots seeded throughout the Arlington Greenbelt. The initiative, if successful, would limit the amount of buildable land to approximately 400 acres and preserve the remaining approximately 900 acres as permanent open space. In short, it preserves the hillsides in perpetuity in exchange for encouraging smart, sustainable growth on a small portion of the property. |
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