Council lifts crushing prohibition, approves on-site crushing with mitigation for Oxbow debris pile after contentious debate

The San Bernardino City Council voted 5-1 on Oct. 14 to select the city staff–recommended option for removal of the so-called “Oxbow” debris pile at 6920 Palm Avenue: on-site crushing with a remediation and mitigation plan overseen by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). The council also voted to rescind Resolution 2020-265, which had prohibited crushing within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned property.

City staff presented a consultant report prepared by CSG and Kimberly Horn that examined three alternatives: (1) crush on-site and haul processed concrete off-site, (2) haul unprocessed debris off-site for processing at another facility, and (3) crush on-site and reuse processed material on-site for grading. Staff and the consultant recommended Alternative 3 as the best environmental option because it minimizes truck traffic on Palm Avenue.

The report described the material as approximately 60,000 tons of concrete brought to the site in 2020 from the demolition of an Amazon warehouse at 2255 Lugonia in Redlands. The analysis included three rounds of testing (including 2025 samples) and a consultant air-quality modeling assessment. Consultant testimony cited that none of the alternatives would exceed South Coast AQMD thresholds for criteria pollutants or toxic air contaminant (TAC) cancer risk under the modeled scenarios. The city paid roughly $78,000 for the CSG/Kimberly Horn report and $13,500 for the recent lab tests, staff said.

The consultant described equipment designed for urban crushing with an enclosed crusher, cover/tarping protocols, water-spraying dust suppression, street sweeping, and on-site monitoring by AQMD as components of a mitigation plan. The staff presentation and consultant recommended scheduling crushing during summer recess sessions for nearby schools to reduce exposure during operations and running the work in phased windows to limit truck trips during school sessions.

Opponents at the dais and in public comment strongly urged full removal by truck rather than crushing. Council member Ortiz, representing the Fifth Ward near the site, reiterated residents’ long-standing objections and read from court filings and an abatement warrant previously filed by the city that directed removal of the stockpile; Ortiz moved to select the haul-off alternative (Alternative 2) and to have the material removed from the neighborhood. Several residents testified that the pile had been a blight for years and cited concerns about dust, plastic and prior permit decisions.

Supporters of Alternative 3, including staff and the consultant, said crushing on-site would reduce truck traffic substantially compared with hauling the full volume off-site, that AQMD would permit and monitor the crushing equipment, and that the lab testing did not show contaminant levels above regulatory thresholds. The consultant explained that hauling unprocessed material would require more truck trips (staff testimony quantified the higher-trip scenarios; for example, one modeled scenario for Alternative 1.1 showed about 38 working days at 162 truckloads per day, or roughly 5,670 truck trips).

Developer and engineering representatives said final maps and improvement plans are prepared and they are ready to post required bonds and begin grading if approvals proceed; the developer also said he would secure the site with fencing and agree to additional measures such as water spraying and notification to neighbors.

The council voted 5-1 to approve staff recommendation and repeal the crushing prohibition; Council Member Ortiz voted no. The action carries direction to the city manager to prepare public outreach for Ward 5 and coordinate timing with the community and AQMD.

Ending — Council members said they intend to hold the developer to operational mitigation commitments, AQMD permitting, and community notification. Staff will return with implementation details and an outreach plan for residents in Ward 5.