Back in 2009 to 2011, two affordable housing projects were introduce to the City of Big Bear Lake to address any current or future housing issues. In early 2009, the City of Big Bear Lake's Improvement Agency issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) seeking developers to submit proposals for affordable housing projects. Eight companies submitted proposals, and on November 9, 2009, the Improvement Agency accepted the proposals from two firms –National Community Renaissance (National CORE) and EAH, Inc.
On June 2, 2010, the National CORE Conditional Use Permit (2010-020) was reviewed by the Planning Commission. The project was a 59-unit affordable apartment complex on 2.47 acres at 588-620 Jeffries Road, but on June 28, 2010, the Improvement Agency terminated the funding agreement with National CORE due to neighborhood opposition to the project.
EAH submitted a Conditional Use Permit 2010 - 129 for a two-phased project, Phase I – 80 Family units, and Phase II – 80 Senior (age restricted) units for a total of 160 units on 13.2 acres at 100 – 200 Sandalwood Drive. Before a Conditional Use Permit was reviewed by the Planning Commission, public opposition was raised by The Sandalwood Community on March 16, 2011, and on March 28, 2011, the City Council “delayed consideration” of the funding agreement with EAH, Inc. The funding agreement was not pursued. I've been investigating the events on March 16, 2011 and on March 28, 2011, when several members of Big Bear Lake (then called The Sandalwood Community) blocked our community efforts at creating affordable housing. If you know of anyone who was involved in this effort to block Big Bear Affordable Housing, please contact me at TheodoreTrentman@gmail.com. (see updated by clicking here) So far, many of the same people who are a part of Big Bear United are the same people who were involved in the Sandalwood Community and Jeffries effort to block affordable housing. I'm looking at if STRs (short-term rentals) are actually to blame for our current housing crisis or if the blame should be placed on a group of Big Bear Lake residents who don't want those who need affordable housing living in Big Bear. THEY CLAIM NEIGHBORS NEED NEIGHBORS BUT THEY ALREADY MADE SURE THOSE NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULDN'T BE LIVING NEXT TO THEM. THIS IS A FACT. THIS ISN'T FAKE NEWS. THE SANDALWOOD & JEFFRIES STREET COMMUNITIES BLOCKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT IN BIG BEAR. IT'S ALL FACT AND IT HAPPENED IN BIG BEAR LAKE IN 2011. WE DON'T HAVE 160 (UPDATED NUMBER IS 219) AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BECAUSE BIG BEAR DOESN'T WANT YOU HERE. NOW, MANY OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT THOSE NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE GOING TO RENT HOMES IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY CAN AFFORD TO RENT LARGE 3 TO 10 BEDROOM HOMES CURRENTLY BEING USED AS VACATION RENTALS...BECAUSE NEIGHBORS NEED NEIGHBORS RIGHT? My intention is to present to our community a TRUE PICTURE of WHY Big Bear Lake exists today without enough affordable housing. Is it really because second home owners choose not to rent out their homes to long-term renters or is it because a group of Big Bear Lake residents BLOCKED affordable housing? Please contact me with any information you might have on who specifically was behind this effort to push the poor people out ON THE STREETS. I want to see if we can determine how many of the SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY are also a part of BIG BEAR UNITED. EITHER WAY, SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY IS THE REASON WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. I've already attached at least 5 people who were part of that movement TO BIG BEAR UNITED. I made a Public Information Request from the City of Big Bear Lake requesting all materials and correspondence from people who stopped affordable housing from beign built back in 2010. We will then match it up to our list of more than 500 BBU members. Thank you for your consideration. Below you can learn more information about these events and how The Sandalwood Community single-handedly blocked affordable housing in Big Bear Lake. My hope is that we can reignite this project and SAVE THE RESIDENTS. XXX Meeting Notes on the Special Meeting of the Big Bear Lake's Effort to Establish Affordable Housing. Click on box below to download.
Article on KBHR memorializing the events surrounding this affordable housing community. Click on box below to download.
San Bernardino County Housing Plan and Requirements for Big Bear Lake
All California cities and counties are required by state law to prepare a housing element to address their existing local housing needs and assigned share of the region’s need for housing production. Specifically, Sections 65580 to 65589 of the California Government Code require that each city and county identify and analyze existing and projected housing needs and prepare a series of goals, policies, and quantified objectives, financial resources and scheduled programs to further the development, improvement, and preservation of housing. Click on box below to download .