Planning commission opens public hearing on 86.8‑acre RV and self‑storage proposal, takes testimony and continues item

The Jurupa Valley Planning Commission on April 23 opened a public hearing on a master application proposing a general plan amendment, change of zone, tentative parcel map, conditional use permit and site development permit to allow a recreational vehicle and self‑storage facility on an 86.8‑acre site southeast of Interstate 15 and State Route 60 near Eighth Street, then continued the item to a future date.

Staff member Mr. Perez told commissioners that the item should be opened to receive testimony but continued because the City received two late communications from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). One message raised concerns about environmental surveys and analysis; a later email from a CDFW environmental program manager said the earlier concerns were rescinded. Perez said staff had not been able to verify the agency’s second message in time for the meeting and recommended the hearing be continued so the city could resolve the discrepancy with the state agency before making a decision.

‘‘We received a letter from the state agency indicating several different concerns . . . and because of that, we are recommending this evening . . . that the public hearing be opened and continued,’’ Perez said.

Members of the public addressed the commission during the opened hearing. Comments were predominantly opposed to rezoning conservation‑designated land for commercial use and raised environmental, safety, and procedural concerns:

- Amir Ashobry, who identified himself as a Jurupa Valley resident and local e‑commerce retailer, said he rents multiple storage units and cited vacancies at nearby facilities, adding, ‘‘they have 45% of their units currently vacant.’’

- Christine Garcia, who said she had prepared materials for the commission, argued the project conflicts with the city’s 2017 general plan and the conservation and open‑space policies meant to protect habitat, watersheds and wildlife corridors. She asserted the site is in a floodplain and said the proposal would threaten the Least Bell’s vireo, a federally protected migratory songbird; she said hundreds of residents had signed an opposition petition.

- Jennifer Turner (Toner) raised alleged inconsistencies in the project materials, including differing parcel acreages across notices and the administrative environmental determination she said was incomplete; she said the public notice and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) failed to list all parcels and called for an Environmental Impact Report.

- Other residents, including Christian Tower, Jackie Pennington, Henry Escalera and George Ruiz, said the proposal would reduce open space, increase traffic and fire risk, and harm property values; a speaker named Richard Lynch said he supports the project and urged residents to meet the developer.

Staff said the city received written comments emailed to commissioners: two letters in favor, 36 in opposition and a petition with 244 signatures. Commissioners then voted to continue the public hearing to a future date to be determined so staff can clarify the state agency’s position and provide a full staff and applicant presentation for the record.

The commission’s continuance preserves public testimony delivered tonight in the record and directs staff to re‑notice the item for the continued hearing so residents who wish to attend the full presentation can do so when the item returns.