City Council Forwards Community Input on Affordable Apartment Complex to Planning Commission for Wednesday Vote

Big Bear Lake, CA — The bulk of last night’s meeting of the City Council of Big Bear Lake was focused on a discussion item pertaining to the proposed affordable apartment complex on Jeffries Road, the contract for which the City Council’s Improvement Agency approved in February; the developer of the project, National CORE, held a community meeting in Big Bear on May 8, to solicit input on the project, which was potentially slated to include 59 units on three acres across the street from Big Bear Middle School. Neighbors to the project voiced their protests to Council during the May 24 meeting, citing issues of density and noise, in addition to concerns related to the removal of trees on the 81,000 square foot space. Entering into the meeting, National CORE had reduced their proposal, to instead build 53 units and expand upon the community center for the project. In doing so, this could reduce the overall number of parking spaces, which was another concern of neighbors. As the City Council was not slated to take action on this item, they have directed the Planning Commission to address these issues (including an assessment of parking spaces needed) in their Wednesday meeting, when the project goes before them for a vote on the Conditional Use Permit. As pointed out by members of Council, the City of Big Bear Lake does have more leverage on this project, as it falls under the Improvement Agency and use of Redevelopment funds, specifically designated to provide for affordable housing for the City’s workforce. The Planning Commission reviews the project, and associated permits, in their Wednesday meeting at 1:15pm in Hofert Hall.