Environmental Groups Sue to Stop Sprawl in the Inland Empire

On the fringes of the built environment in Southern California, comes a turn of events much more common in the urban core: the California Environmental Quality Act has been invoked to put the brakes on a general plan update.

1 minute read

January 20, 2016, 12:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Ian James reports: "Three environmental groups have sued to challenge Riverside County’s approach to development, saying the latest update of the county’s general plan would lead to more suburban sprawl."

"The Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity and San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society argue that an amendment to the general plan and a “climate action plan” approved by the Board of Supervisors in December would promote a proliferation of subdivisions and threaten open space and wildlife. They also say the county’s plan would reinforce the area’s emphasis on transportation by car and contribute to air pollution and emissions of climate-warming CO2," adds James.

The article includes more context on the General Plan update approved in December by the County Board of Supervisors, as well as arguments from each side on the issue.

Saturday, January 16, 2016 in The Desert Sun

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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