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City council approves purchase of vacant parcel on Big Bear Boulevard for parking and restrooms
Summary
Council approved using Measure Y funds to buy a vacant, roughly 40,000‑square‑foot parcel west of Division Boulevard to expand parking and add restrooms near the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk; council said the design will seek to preserve natural character.
The Big Bear Lake City Council on July 9 approved the purchase of an unimproved parcel on Big Bear Boulevard (APN 0311‑221‑35) for roughly $300,000, funding the acquisition with Measure Y transient‑occupancy‑tax revenues earmarked for visitor and community amenities.
City staff told council the parcel is just west of Division Boulevard, contiguous to existing city open space and trail access, and could support roughly 100 additional parking spaces in early estimates. Staff said additional parking and restrooms would help reduce congestion at the Stanfield Marsh Boardwalk and S’more Trail, which staff reported received more than 453,000 visits in the past year from roughly 340,000 unique visitors.
“Providing additional parking and restrooms at this location could significantly reduce traffic and congestion at other areas of the city,” staff said in their presentation. Staff emphasized the city intends to design parking and facilities to blend with the natural landscape rather than creating large areas of asphalt.
Public commenters raised objections to the purchase on fiscal grounds and urged the council to use existing city‑owned parcels before buying new property. Staff responded the parcel offers an existing Caltrans driveway cut that would simplify access construction compared with the city‑owned adjacent property, which lacks a boulevard outlet.
Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute purchase documents, approve the fiscal‑year appropriations from Measure Y, and find the action exempt from CEQA. The motion passed 4‑1 (Council member Hicks voted no).
