U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R- Hesperia) introduced H.R. 5355, the Desert Community Lands Act, on Thursday to convey a total of approximately 8,200 surface acres of land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to the Town of Apple Valley and Cities of Twentynine Palms, Barstow, and Victorville. These conveyances would be at no cost and will give these communities currently landlocked by federal land increased space and control over their surroundings.
"Currently, over 90 percent of the land mass in California's 8th District is owned by government agencies," said Rep. Obernolte. "As a result, many of our small communities face problems ranging from a lack of control over recreational opportunities to growing pains resulting from a lack of space, including housing, traffic congestion, insufficient wastewater treatment, and lagging development. This bill would bring control of local lands back to our communities and ensure that the needs of our citizens can be met."
Like many cities and towns in the High Desert, the communities of Apple Valley, Barstow, Twentynine Palms, and Victorville are located amidst an extensive land ownership pattern dominated by the federal government. While in some cases federally managed lands provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as in our national parks and forests and off-highway vehicle use areas, they can also impede the surrounding communities from responding to the pressures of population growth and fostering economic development.
H.R. 5355, the Desert Community Lands Act, requires the Bureau of Land Management to convey the following lands to local governments:
To Victorville: Approximately 3,200 surface acres located either within the city limits or its sphere of influence within one year of enactment to contribute to the Victorville Master Plan, which would be designed to respond to projected population growth and serve as a transit hub between southern Californian communities and Las Vegas. Other conveyed parcels would be used for wastewater treatment, increased transportation access, and light industrial development.
To Apple Valley: Approximately 4,630 surface acres of BLM-managed land located north and east of the town center to be managed by the town as the Apple Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area for use by off-road vehicles, competitive races, training and other recreation. This conveyance would occur within five years of the bill's enactment.
To Barstow: Approximately 320 surface acres of BLM-managed land located entirely within the incorporated city limits and adjacent to the I-15 freeway and its commercial development would be conveyed within one year to reduce traffic congestion and allow for secondary access to a key town center. The parcel's development is estimated to bring in as much as $1,000,000 annually in sales tax revenue for the City of Barstow.
To Twentynine Palms: Approximately 80 surface acres east of the city to allow for more publicly accessible race events at the Twentynine Palms Motorsports Arena, which hosts the annual Hilltoppers Motorcycle Club Grand Prix and draws more than 1,200 racers and 5,000 attendees for that event alone. This land conveyance would occur within one year of enactment of the bill and provide much-needed economic stimulus to the area.