CVAN, in its quest to defend and define our community, has compiled a remarkable
list of accomplishments over the years. Just to name a few –-
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1958-1960 |
Cherry Valley attempted incorporation. Residents
feared incorporation would lead to urbanization and destroy their
rural lifestyle.
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1971-1973 |
Cherry Valley successfully petitioned Riverside
County to change zoning from urban R-1 to rural RA-1.
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1972-1973 |
Cherry Valley
(Pass) Acres & Neighbors was formed.
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1972-1973 |
The Riverside Board of Supervisors agreed to Cherry
Valley’s request for one-acre lot size.
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1973 |
The San Gorgonio Pass Plan was adopted by the Board
of Supervisors. Cherry Valley received boundaries and recognition as a
Ruralistic Community (the only area, at that time with one-acre zoning).
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|
1974 |
The Cherry Valley community was unaware of LAFCO
(Local Agency Formation Commission), and they were unaware that the City
of Beaumont had included all of Cherry Valley in its Sphere of
Influence.
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1980 |
The City of Beaumont made its first annexation into
the Cherry Valley area at Brookside and Beaumont Avenues. Cherry Valley
lost in a bitter battle not only to stop this annexation, but also to
force Beaumont to follow the General Plan of 0 to 3 units per acre. At
this time, Cherry Valley's plans for incorporation were renewed.
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1980 |
Cherry Valley again began its work to incorporate.
The Community was still not receptive to the idea.
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1982 |
Beaumont made application to LAFCO to annex a
portion of the east part of Cherry Valley. CVAN opposed this annexation
at the LAFCO hearing. Later that same year, CVAN made a proposal to
Riverside County for a Cherry Valley Community Plan.
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1984 (March) |
Cherry Valley received formal status as a
“Community Area” in the County’s new General Plan. Hence, we thought our
boundaries were now safe. (What a rude awakening!)
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1984 (July) |
Beaumont Council passed resolutions to annex the
area between Brookside Avenue and Cherry Valley Blvd., on both sides of
Beaumont Avenue. This was 147 acres, right in the heart of Cherry
Valley! CVAN objected, but to no avail.
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1984 (August) |
The preliminary battle took place at a LAFCO
hearing. We thought we had won, but LAFCO staff recommended that
Beaumont’s Sphere of Influence over Cherry Valley remain!
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1984 |
A recall election was held, and Beaumont gained
three new members on its Council.
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1985 |
Representatives from CVAN met with each of the five
Council members individually. We pushed for peace between the
two communities. They made it obvious that Beaumont still intended to
annex into Cherry Valley.
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1985 (May) |
CVAN presented its case before LAFCO for the second
time, and LAFCO voted to remove Cherry Valley from Beaumont’s Sphere of
Influence
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1990 |
Five years later, Cherry Valley filed for
incorporation. In our opinion, if the 1992 recession had not
intervened, and had the State of California not changed the rules,
Cherry Valley would have realized its dream of being an incorporated
city, free to pursue its own destiny.
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2000 |
Brought the advancement of the city of Beaumont
north into Cherry Valley boundaries, and new challenges to our
community.
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2002 |
CVAN lost the effort to keep our boundaries at Cougar Way.
Soon after, however, the city of Beaumont made a move to annex all
the way to Cherry Valley Blvd. Here, CVAN took a stand. This battle
resulted in the purchase of the east portion of the "Oda" property
(North of Brookside) by the Beaumont/Cherry Valley Water District, and
the west side being purchased by the School District. This triggered the
action against Noble Creek.
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2003/2004 |
CVAN filed a legal action against the City of Beaumont/Noble Creek and
the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
they filed for their project was counting on approximately 700 +
acre-feet of state water from the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency as
verification of an adequate water source for the development. We felt
this wasn’t adequate proof, and the courts agreed with us. This resulted
in a new EIR being generated.
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2006 |
CVAN settled a second long legal battle with Noble Creek Vistas and the
City of Beaumont. We won lower density housing, protection of our Deodar
trees, and energy efficient construction. CVAN settled a legal action
on the Banning Bench Project. This resulted in the water section of the
EIR needing to be restudied and rewritten. If the EIR is still
inadequate when it is re-filed, we can challenge it again.
We are currently challenging the Sunny Cal Project EIR. An
application has been made by Sunny Cal to the City of Beaumont to annex
the egg ranch. As of now (March 2007), it has NOT been before the City
Council.
CVAN challenged the Black Bench EIR in conjunction with Highland
Springs Resort, Banning Bench Community of Interest (COI), the Cherry
Valley Environmental Planning Group, and The Center for Biological
Diversity. The case is pending. |
