West Mojave Plan FEIR/S - Desert Managers Group

maximum density of one dwelling unit per 40 acres. Much of the unincorporated area isdesignated for low-density residential use ranging from one dwelling unit per 2.5 acres to onedwelling unit per 40 acres.The County General Plan also includes mapping which ties allowable land uses to theavailability of the basic infrastructure required for development (roads, water and wastewaterfacilities). “Required levels of service are established for all areas ranging from the most intenseurban areas (IL 1) to the least intense rural areas (IL 5). Development can be permitted to thedegree allowed by a site’s official land use designation only when infrastructure facilities are orplanned to be in place at levels consistent with the designated IL areas.” (San Bernardino CountyGeneral Plan at II-D6-36.)The San Bernardino County General Plan lists the following goals and policies pertinentto biological resources:• Preserve rare and endangered species and protect areas of special habitat value; and• Establish plans for long-term preservation and conservation of biological resources (SanBernardino County General Plan at II-C1-4).San Bernardino County Development Code: The San Bernardino CountyDevelopment Code also provides for the designation of a Biological Resource Overlay Districtwhere special management is provided for unincorporated areas in the county for the protectionof important flora/fauna habitat. Surveys and mitigation measures are required for any newdevelopment or expansion of an existing land use by 25% or more (Development Code atSection 85.030220). The County has categorized desert tortoise habitat as one, two, and three;indicated Mohave ground squirrel range; and identified bald eagle roosts and habitat on theBiotic Resource Overlay. (San Bernardino County General Plan at II-C1-4 to 6).Surveys of biotic resources on site and adjacent parcels and mitigation measures toreduce impacts to the identified resources are required in the Biotic Resource Overlay Districtsfor all proposed land use map changes and for discretionary land use proposals. Thesedevelopment policies are not restricted to those areas within the Biotic Resource OverlayDistrict, but may be applied to any areas where there are listed or candidate species and theirhabitat. A monitoring program is also required. Survey results, mitigation and monitoring mustbe documented in a Biological Resources Report.Mojave Narrows Regional Park: The Mojave River flows through the Victor Valley,forming the boundary between the cities of Victorville and Apple Valley. At the Narrows,groundwater is forced to the surface by underlying bedrock and a permanent stream supportsextensive riparian forest. This oasis provides habitat for many West Mojave target species,particularly birds. The concentration of species at this location makes the Mojave NarrowsRegional Park a biological hotspot, where 17 sensitive species are found together. The park isowned by the state Wildlife Conservation Board and is operated by San Bernardino CountyDepartment of Regional Parks. It comprises 850 acres, with 450 acres devoted to habitat.Chapter 3 3-20