The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors this week revised a portion of the county’s general plan relating to any future development in Oak Glen.
Oak Glen is an unincorporated district of the county in the foothills above Yucaipa famous for its apple orchards.
According to Christine Kelly, the county’s director of land use services, in March 2007 the board of supervisors updated the county’s general plan with regard to development standards in 13 communities including Oak Glen, and by that update had aimed to preserve the rural character of the community by maintaining agricultural activities, low-density residential development, and limited commercial development in accordance with the wishes of local residents and landowners. Kelly this week told the board of supervisors, “It was intended that this would be accomplished by balancing the desire for the preservation of the rural character of the area with the desire to provide local jobs and promote local businesses through agritourism opportunities. However, since that time, it has become apparent that certain clarifications to the code are warranted. Many of the residents in the community expected all businesses within the rural living land use zoning district would be subject to the agritourism development standards outlined in the development code, but that is not the case as the code is currently adopted.”
The ordinance passed on Tuesday which amends the Oak Glen Community Plan specifies regulations on non-agritourism business, including hours of operation limited to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on outdoor activities. The ordinance further requires that all amplified music be indoors unless a special event permit is obtained, or when the music is played a minimum of 330 feet from the nearest residence.