Residents and groups push back as supervisors consider Mead Valley foundation change

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors heard more than three hours of testimony on March 10 over a proposed foundation-component general-plan amendment covering roughly 668 acres in the Mead Valley area, a staff presentation and developer pitch followed by intensive public comment that split residents, labor and community groups.

Staff presenter Pye Van Nantungdansi told the board the request would change land-use designations from rural-residential and very-low-density residential to community development, mixed use, light industrial/business park and open-space conservation to allow a private sponsor to prepare an implementing project within a county-established timeline. Travis Duncan, who identified himself as lead developer at DECA, said the initiative would fund infrastructure, create retail and construction jobs and preserve about 200 acres as conservation land. "This is an opportunity to do two more years of outreach, environmental and technical studies," Duncan said, adding the sponsor expects commercial anchors such as a grocery store and intends to pursue community benefits and…