

The county Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously Wednesday to advance a program designed to guard communities the place large-scale tasks akin to renewable power crops or hospitals are proposed.
County workers will analysis tips on how to apply obligatory and voluntary “neighborhood advantages agreements” for enterprise parks, housing, warehouses “and different sorts of tasks (which) can have a big influence on surrounding communities,” based on an announcement from board Chairman Nathan Fletcher’s workplace.
Employees members will have a look at proposed choices — together with neighborhood participation and whether or not the county or a 3rd celebration will deal with administration — earlier than returning to the board with a proper proposal at a future date.
Fletcher stated CBAs can offset some financial, environmental and social impacts on neighborhoods. Advantages can embrace neighborhood services, native hiring, parks and recreation alternatives and prevailing wages.
The board’s motion Wednesday comes after appreciable public opposition to a big photo voltaic farm in Jacumba Scorching Springs, which supervisors authorized in August 2021. Quite a few residents stated the challenge would hurt their neighborhood and have an effect on general progress.
Final December, supervisors directed workers to research whether or not a CBA program was possible.
“We wish to have the ability to guarantee neighborhoods and residents stay entire as soon as a brand new large-scale challenge is proposed and constructed of their neighborhood,” Fletcher stated.
Metropolis Information Service contributed to this text.