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County opens program EIR scoping for Cabazon community plan that could add up to 25,000 homes; residents warn of water and access limits
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Summary
Riverside County began CEQA scoping for the Cabazon Community Plan and accompanying infrastructure plan, a 30‑year program that staff said could accommodate up to 25,000 homes; residents and agency representatives urged county study of water supply, sewer capacity and train‑blocked access.
Riverside County planning staff and consultants presented a programmatic scoping session on March 18 for the Cabazon (Cabezon) Community Plan and an accompanying infrastructure plan. Staff said the programmatic EIR will analyze a wide range of environmental topics and inform future, project‑level review.
What was presented: Principal planner Candice Hughes described the plan area in the San Gorgonio Pass and explained the programmatic approach. Staff said the Community Plan is guided by the sixth cycle housing element and could plan for development over a 30‑year horizon, including as many as 25,000 new housing units in the plan area. The accompanying infrastructure plan will assess water supplies, wastewater, flood control, power and telecommunications, roadways and other systems needed to support buildout.
Public concerns: Sarah Wargo, speaking for the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency and as a longtime Cabazon resident, told the commission the area is managed under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and currently has no direct connection to the State Water Project; she said there is no sewer provider and that freight trains often block both existing access roads, sometimes delaying emergency response. Wargo said the community currently has roughly 2,000 homes and emphasized the need to plan for ingress/egress and water infrastructure before large‑scale growth.
Staff response and next steps: Staff and consultant Michael Baker International (Alicia Gonzales) said they will study water, sewer, circulation, transportation (including train crossings and proposed bypass/overpass projects), and utilities in the programmatic EIR. They noted an ongoing wastewater treatment analysis and identified infrastructure projects that could address train‑blocking and emergency‑access concerns. The NOP scoping comment period is open and staff encouraged written comments to inform technical studies.
Why it matters: The program EIR will set the scope for long‑range infrastructure decisions that affect water, sewer, emergency response and transportation for current residents and any new development in the Cabazon area.
Representative quote: "We have had our fire trucks stuck on the other side of the train. The train blocks both of the corridors in and out," said Sarah Wargo.
Ending: Staff said NOP comments will be accepted through the published deadline; technical studies and a draft program EIR are planned for later in 2026, and the commission will consider the final document in subsequent hearings.
