HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-2026_Open Session_ L.R. CSS President
LETTER OF PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE RECORD
Date: 6 MAY 2026
From: Luke Berger
President, Crestline Soaring Society
To: San Bernardino City Council
Via: San Bernardino City Clerk
Cc: Board of Directors, Crestline Soaring Society
Subj: SB City Council Meeting, 6 May 2026, Agenda Item #7: Specific Plan Amendment 23-
01 and Subdivision 23-05 (Tentative Tract Map 20595) University Hills Specific Plan
1. The Crestline Soaring Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that manages a purpose-
built flight park to provide a safe landing-zone and organized support for 240 member pilots to
enjoy Paragliding and Hang-Gliding activity. The current landing zone, known as Andy Jackson
Air Park, was established in its current location in 1996 by a land-use agreement with the Sate of
California Dept of Water Resources as the result of the eminent domain related relocation of the
previous landing zone location on private property that is now within the Devil’s Canyon Hydro-
Electric Plant Afterbay.
2. On January 13th, 2026, several CSS Members attended the SB City Planning Commission
meeting for this same matter. Our public comments and the letter submitted to the Planning
Commission are on record.
3. This letter serves to remind the City Council of the position of the CSS with regards to the
development plan for Encore University Hills. It is important we reiterate our position that the
CSS is not completely opposed to the development, or in any way insisting that no homes should
be built. We do, however, have somber worries about the density of the project, its proximity to
our eastern property line, and serious concerns should homes be built so close to an active
aviation landing zone without reasonable concessions for safety.
a. Pilots landing Hang Gliders at Andy Jackson Airpark use a standard aviation practice
known as a Downwind-Base-Final landing approach, this was illustrated and explained to the SB
City Planning Commission and documented. During the landing sequence Hang Gliders are
flying over the area where homes are intended to be built in this project. For the majority of the
homes in this development plan there is minimal risk to the property or to the safety of the pilots,
however there is increasing risk for the homes that would be closest the eastern edge of our
landing zone, particularly in the north-west corner of the proposed development, where the pilots
are lowest in altitude as they descend toward ground level to complete a safe landing.
b. The CSS has, on multiple occasions, met with or had discussion with the Developer,
Encore University Hills, to explain our concerns and work toward solutions. While we do
recognize the Developer’s willingness to hear our concerns and the professionalism of Encore’s
Project Manager, David Hardy, the solution they have proposed so far is inadequate. The homes
that are planned in northwest corner of the development present the greatest risk of potential
collision and the Developer has only offered the lower the elevation of the intended parcels to
provide a marginally better potential for over-flight clearance. The CSS has countered that this
is insufficient, in some weather conditions pilots can experience abnormal sink rates which could
lead to an accident; the only realistic safety mitigation is to keep a buffer zone of clear area
between the properties without vertical obstructions of any kind (no structures, light-poles, street
signs, fences, etc).
4. While the previous section of this letter covers our greatest safety concerns related to the
planed structures, the following points are shared with other residents and concerned parties.
a. Catastrophic Wildfire Risk: The Old Fire which started in October of 2003 burned
more than 91K acres, destroyed almost 1000 homes including part of the University, and
took 6 lives. Total damages (not inflation adjusted) were $1.2B. The entire area of the
proposed Encore University Hills development sits squarely inside the epicenter of this
historic fire, sandwiched between the mountain and the University and at the mercy of
potentially devastating Santa Ana winds. The commonly understood wildfire cycle puts
this area at extreme risk of burning again, it is clear from observation that the natural fuel
has recovered and stands at dangerous levels. Considering the recent Eaton Fire , the
physical location of this development presents a risk of similar outcome with what may
be inadequate egress and little defensible space. Concerned current residents in the area
wonder how any homeowner in the proposed development would even be able to secure
adequate or affordable fire insurance.
b. Development Density: The documentation submitted by the developer for resolution
no. 2026-001-PC indicated a lot area of 404.3 acres with intent to build 327 homes. The
density ratio presented at the SB City Planning Commission meeting was verbally
presented based on the noted figures being .81 homes per acre. This math is directly
misleading to the public. Based on the submitted drawings of the potential development,
almost all the 327 homes will be constructed on a single 89-acre parcel (APN:
026504112) which results in an actual density ratio of 3.67 homes per acre.
c. Preservation of Recreation: While historic documentation from the 2008 approved plan
as part of the environmental impact report was included as an attachment to the
documentation for resolution no. 2026-001-PC, the current developer made no direct
mention of the preservation of recreation as it relates to Hang Gliding & Paragliding
activity within their amendment proposal. Objections were extensively documented and
a high participation rate of CSS members submitting letters to the previous 2008 plan
proposal seem to be completely ignored by the current developer. The only specific
mention of recreation preservation during the oral presentation by the developer was to
construct ‘interpretive signs’ and to potentially create access to hiking trails. The CSS
would like it to be known and understood, for the record, that the areas in question where
hiking would be considered for recreation in and around this development area (base of
Marshall Mountain & foothills) are very unforgiving terrain that should not be
realistically considered for public recreation. This high-desert environment has a much
steeper pitch than what may be visually observed, loose and rocky ground that collapses
easily in dry seasons, impassable growth of Chaparral and other native underbrush, and
the significant risk of encounters with Rattle Snakes or other dangerous wildlife. Due to
the extreme temperatures from mid-June through October, no reasonable or experienced
person would or should consider hiking in this area. Cellular coverage is almost non-
existent when line-of-sight to towers is hindered within the deep valleys created by the
mountain spines, while ingress and egress for Emergency Responders is about the worst
one could expect outside of using Helicopter Rescue.
5. Having submitted this statement the CSS hopes that the San Bernardino City Council will take
our concerns into consideration and include concessions into the proposed development plan to
ensure an outcome that will have the greatest long-term benefits for the city, its residents, and
those who visit to enjoy the natural beauty and recreation activities it offers.
A stand-off of clear space between the Andy Jackson Flight Park and the proposed
development would potentially solve the issues of landing safety concerns for CSS pilots and
considerably reduce the wildfire risk to structures , facilitate emergency response efforts, and
prevent hindering a potential evacuation route for residents if required. The City Council and the
developer should not consider hiking in the area as a safe of or viable recreation option, but
instead put a greater focus on the existing recreation. San Bernardino has had the unique
distinction of hosting world-class Hang-Gliding and Paragliding for over 50 years, it makes the
city stand out amongst its peers, a feature that fewer and fewer cities across our entire country
can claim. We ask you to please consider the historical and cultural significance that our sport
brings to the community, help us ensure that we can continue to train and grow new pilots so that
they will preserve San Bernardino as the premier destination in Southern California for the sport
for many years to come.
Very Respectfully,
L.R. Berger, CSS President