City of Barstow
220 E. Mountain View Street, Barstow,
CA 92311-2888 Tel (760) 255-5157
[email protected]
WWW.BARSTOWCA.ORG
Mr. Marc Stamer
Barstow Field Manager
Bureau of Land Management
2601 Barstow Road
Barstow, CA 92311
Re: City of Barstow Acquisition of BLM Land
Dear Mr. Stamer:
I am writing on behalf of the City of Barstow (Barstow) to solicit cooperation from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as it relates to supporting Barstow’s emerging public purpose and economic development endeavors. In anticipation of significant growth in employment, housing, and commercial businesses, Barstow is currently working to promote a dual mission of fostering economic development while providing the physical and social infrastructure that will improve the quality of life for the public and the current and future residents of Barstow.
Based upon the above, Barstow respectfully requests your immediate support and assistance relative to advancing a direct sale of land in accordance with the sale authority of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the applicable regulations as set forth in 43 CFR 2710. Barstow is prepared to begin working with BLM to develop an appropriate path forward on an expedited basis.
We recognize that BLM has many competing priorities and challenges as they relate to public land management. Barstow is willing to work collaboratively and cooperatively with BLM under a mutually acceptable arrangement, including an appropriate Cost Recovery Agreement (CRA), in conjunction with engaging experienced consultants and contractors to assist BLM in the process. As such, Barstow respectfully requests your immediate support and assistance relative to supporting the City’s proposal for a direct sale of public land in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.3-3.
The City’s proposal involves public land managed by BLM, all of which is located within the incorporated City limits of Barstow, which are shown and more particularly described in the attached Exhibit A (the “Subject Property”). The land is needed to support future economic development and revitalization efforts essential to the growth of Barstow. The Subject Property is currently identified for disposal in the approved BLM California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, as amended in 2016 by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). Attached is a map, aerial photo, and interim legal descriptions describing the Subject Property
City of Barstow
220 E. Mountain View Street, Barstow,
CA 92311-2888 Tel (760) 255-5157
[email protected]
WWW.BARSTOWCA.ORG
According to the DRECP, the Subject Property’s current land use allocation is a Special Recreation Management Area (SMRA). Lands within SRMA’s are available for disposal with the stipulation that disposal actions are only available to parties that will manage the land in accordance with the recreational values identified in the SRMA Plan. Barstow would like to explore the disposal process with BLM further, including the consideration of a minor amendment to the Stoddard Valley Recreation Management Zone to exclude the small portion of public land identified above, which resides within the incorporated Barstow city limits.
Barstow believes the public purpose interest and determination will be met by a direct sale of the Subject Property to the City for the following reasons:
1) The Subject Property is located entirely within the Barstow city limits and would be best managed by the appropriate local unit of government (Barstow) versus the federal government (BLM).
2) Given the current and future workload managed by the BLM Barstow Field Office, the subject property is deemed low priority and generally considered difficult and uneconomic for BLM to manage on a sustained basis. 3) The Subject Property is not considered environmentally sensitive, and it is envisioned to be an integral part of a future Barstow project of significant public and economic importance. Speculative bidding would jeopardize the timely completion of the project and impede other efforts vital to Bartow’s future. 4) There is an immediate need to provide additional workforce housing and residential development within the City. With the additional jobs that will be provided by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad at the future Barstow International Gateway project, this need will be exacerbated. Without the Subject Property, the City has nowhere to provide the level of development ancillary to support the overall project need. The Subject Property, adjacent to Interstate 15, and entirely within the current City limits, is the only logical area where development on such a scale could be located.
5) With the future development occurring in and around the Lenwood area, Barstow is principally responsible to protect adjacent private ownership interests which could suffer a negative impact if the Subject Property continues to be managed as an intensive OHV riding and racing area as designated in the DRECP. 6) There is sufficient area outside of the City limits to support continued public purpose needs and OHV riding and racing as identified in the DRECP. Barstow remains an active partner with the OHV community supporting the Stoddard City of Barstow
220 E. Mountain View Street, Barstow,
CA 92311-2888 Tel (760) 255-5157
[email protected]
WWW.BARSTOWCA.ORG
Valley Recreation Management Zone providing an enhanced level of management for both private and public land in that important area. 7) The entire Subject Property is identified for disposal in the approved DRECP. 8) Barstow is willing and able to purchase the Subject Property at fair market value (FMV) as determined by BLM and the Department of Interior Appraisal and Valuation Services Office.
9) The are no existing uses of record that would be substantially and adversely impacted by a direct sale of the Subject Property to Barstow. 10) Future development of the Subject Property will be subject to applicable reviews and approvals by Barstow as well as other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies with jurisdiction over the property.
Barstow has been working closely to advance an economic development project that will provide much needed public infrastructure, housing, and mixed-use development. This key property, at the heart of the intersection of I-15, State Highway 58, and Sidewinder/Lenwood Roads, is vital to those efforts. We will be happy to provide additional justification and information concerning the City’s envisioned uses as they continue to evolve.
In the meantime, representatives from Barstow would like to arrange a personal meeting with you and appropriate BLM officials to discuss any additional justification and information the BLM might need concerning this request. Barstow would be happy to host the meeting at the City offices, or we are happy to join you and other appropriate BLM officials (copied below) at the location of your choice.
Thank you in advance for your immediate consideration and response to this initial proposal. Barstow remains open and flexible to proceeding under a mutually acceptable process. We look forward to working with BLM towards future consideration of this important request, and other public purpose considerations and issues vital to the future of Barstow.
Sincerely,
City of Barstow
220 E. Mountain View Street, Barstow,
CA 92311-2888 Tel (760) 255-5157
[email protected]
WWW.BARSTOWCA.ORG
Assistant City Manager
City of Barstow
Kody Tompkins
760.255.5157
[email protected]
220 East Mountain View St.
Suite A
Barstow, CA 92311
www.barstowca.org
Learn why Barstow is the perfect place to relocate. Download our marketing materials at www.barstowca.org/government/city-manager/economic-development Attachments: Exhibit A – Subject Property and legal descriptions Cc: Karen Mouritsen, BLM State Director
Shelly Lynch, BLM District Manager
Congressman Jay Obernolte
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla