Big Bear Lake residents urge planning commission to pause Cienega Road waste transfer relocation

Two Big Bear Lake residents urged the Planning Commission during public comment to pause a proposed relocation of the city’s waste transfer site and to provide residents with permit documents and environmental review before any approvals.

Susan Ellis, a full-time resident at 39420 Lark Road, told the commission that, “According to city staff, this project was approved by city council during a closed session,” and said residents have been excluded from the process. Ellis said she was told by a city employee that the city is seeking to relocate the waste transfer site from Highway 18 into a residential neighborhood zoned public use/open space and that grading, tree removal and heavy equipment activity have already begun.

Ellis argued the city is relying on a temporary use permit (TUP) and that, under city code, a TUP requires a finding that the proposed use is compatible with surrounding land uses. “A waste site…