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Big Bear Lake resident urges pause on Cienega Road work, alleges improper use of temporary permit
Summary
A resident told the Planning Commission Nov. 5 that grading and tree removal near 39420 Lark Road began after approval in closed session and without required CEQA review; she asked the commission to pause the project and provide the temporary use permit for neighborhood review.
Susan Ellis, a full-time Big Bear Lake resident, urged the Planning Commission on Nov. 5 to halt work tied to a proposed Cienega Road project, saying grading, tree removal and heavy equipment activity have begun near her home at 39420 Lark Road.
Ellis told the commission she was told by city staff the project was approved in closed session in May under state Government Code sections she identified and that the city is relocating a waste transfer or temporary collection site into a residentially zoned neighborhood. She said the city used a temporary use permit (TUP) and that no public hearings, environmental review or traffic study were conducted. "I respectfully urge the commission to pause this project, require a full CEQA review and ensure proper public notice and hearings before any further action is taken," she said.
Teresa Carrera, a retired resident who also spoke during public comment, described specific safety and traffic concerns if trash trucks or a public collection site use narrow residential streets, warning that increased truck movements near tourist routes could create hazards for pedestrians and drivers and could attract bears to new bin locations.
Chair LeGrand and commissioners acknowledged receipt of the comments and said staff would follow up. Commissioner Lisa (first referenced during commissioner reports) asked the chair to provide a copy of the temporary use permit before a neighborhood meeting scheduled the following day. Chair LeGrand directed Kelly Tinker (staff lead on the project, as referenced in the meeting record) to provide the requested documents. Community Development Manager Andrew Mellon later reiterated that staff would pass along the TUP copy prior to the meeting.
No formal action or vote on the Cienega Road project occurred at the Nov. 5 Planning Commission meeting. The speakers and the commission repeatedly distinguished public comment from agenda action and noted that the commission cannot take action on non-agendized items during the public-comment period.
What remains unclear in the record is whether the temporary use permit issued for work at the site met all procedural notice and CEQA requirements; Ellis alleged statutory violations (she cited Government Code sections and Big Bear Lake development code provisions) but the meeting record shows no completed hearing or commission determination on those claims. Chair LeGrand advised residents to contact their City Council representatives and said department heads could provide more detailed follow-up.
Next steps: Staff agreed to provide the temporary use permit to commissioners and to the neighborhood before a scheduled meeting; any future formal planning commission review or environmental determination would be placed on a future agenda if required.
