SpringBrook Heritage Society Sides with Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group

COLTON>> SpringBrook Heritage Alliance (SHA), an organization whose main objective is saving the natural, historical areas of the North Side of Riverside, South Colton, Highgrove and Southeast Grand Terrace, had recently taken a vote on whether to support the Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group fight to stop the mega-warehouses and other industrial development from moving into residential areas. SHA sent a letter to the Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group stating their members had voted to unanimously support their fight to save their neighborhood from the industrial developments. Sycamore Highlands is a residential area east of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park and south of Canyon Crest and UCR areas in the City of Riverside. The residents of this area became concerned when Riverside City Council announced they would be voting on the development of two mega-warehouses proposed for construction. The action community group's concern is that the mega-warehouses are being built too close to the residential areas and will cause problems for the residents. The main concerns voiced by the Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group is that the mega-warehouses will be “too noisy to be compatible with the adjacent residential homes” and that “900 more trucks every day on Sycamore Canyon Blvd using freeway access points on Fair Isle Dr and Central Ave will worsen already terrible traffic problems at those intersections,” along with numerous concerns for how the new mega-warehouses will impact the environment. However, the mega-warehouse representatives have addressed these concerns in their report which they will be presenting to the City of Riverside City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 14. In reference to the noise concern, the company has stated that “noise mitigation during construction includes, among other things, installation of a 12-foot tall temporary sound barrier adjacent to the residences during construction.” Also, the project was checked by a professional Acoustical Engineer to insure utmost noise cancellation during construction and operation. The mega-warehouse report also states that the Traffic Impact Analysis prepared for this project determined that the project will not result in traffic delay or impact to streets in the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group intends to attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14 to voice their concerns and objection to the project. The City Council will also be voting on the plan on this day. “There may not be a direct effect but it will be a kind of a encouragement to make bad decisions. Whatever the City Council decides will be sending a message to the surrounding cities,” said Karen Renfro, Spokesperson for SHA. SHA has voted to support the Sycamore Highlands Community Action Group and will be sending a letter to the City of Riverside prior to the Tuesday, Feb. 14 meeting expressing their “opposition to the practice of introducing industrial development in close proximity to already existing residential areas.” Renfro said this is identical to cases that have happened to Moreno Valley, Colton, San Bernardino and other cites surrounding this area. She also states this City Council meetings is important to the surrounding cities since it provides a precedent of what other cities can do when faced with the same conflict.