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Corona‑Norco USD seeks general‑plan change in Temescal Valley to pursue school; commissioners back initiation
Summary
The Corona‑Norco Unified School District and its consultants asked the county to amend a 57‑acre rural parcel to allow a potential high school and optional medium‑density housing to help fund construction; commissioners voiced support to initiate review and staff will carry recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
The Planning Commission heard a proposal from the Corona‑Norco Unified School District to amend the general‑plan foundation for a 57‑acre parcel in the Temescal Valley / Glen Ivy area in order to pursue a school site and an optional residential component to help fund the facility.
Mark Rogers (TRG Land) told the commission that the district purchased the property in 2002 and has since sought a viable location for a high school. He described the parcel as steep and said that while 57 acres was the district’s target, flat buildable area would likely be closer to 25–30 acres. Rogers said the district hopes the foundational change would allow a site for a school and, if the California Department of Education permits, some medium‑density residential (roughly 6,000‑square‑foot pads) that could contribute funding for a 700–800‑student educational facility.
John Von Driscoll, the district’s Administrative Director of Facilities and Support Services, called in to express the district’s support and to note coordination with neighboring land owners to secure needed access. Longtime Temescal Valley resident Jerry Sincich also spoke in favor of the change, saying the community has long anticipated a new high school.
Commissioners expressed broad support for initiating the general‑plan amendment to explore the school opportunity. Staff reiterated the procedural point that initiation leads to additional study, potential environmental review and a staff report to the Board of Supervisors; commissioners asked that community outreach and interagency coordination continue as the matter moves forward.
Next steps include technical and biological studies, potential Department of Education review about the feasibility of locating a school on the sloped parcel, and inclusion of the commission’s recommendations in the staff report to the Board of Supervisors.
