Diamond Bar : Draft General Plan Protested

About 150 people protested the city’s draft General Plan last week, saying it does not adequately protect Tonner Canyon, an ecologically sensitive area in Diamond Bar’s sphere of influence.

At the City Council’s first hearing on the proposed General Plan Tuesday, resident Max Maxwell questioned why the Planning Commission increased the density limit in Tonner Canyon to one residence per acre from a resident advisory committee’s recommendation of one residence per 2.5 acres. In response, Community Development Director James DeStefano said the other density limit was too restrictive.

Also protested was the Planning Commission’s decision to allow a transportation corridor, defined as a road or other modes of transportation, through the canyon. The advisory committee recommended against a road.

Councilman Gary Miller responded that almost all of Tonner Canyon is owned by the Boy Scouts of America, which wants to develop much of it to finance the creation of a camp there, leaving the city with a limited voice.

The council made no decisions on Tonner Canyon on Tuesday because the hearing was intended only to review the Public Services and Facilities section of the plan.

The council is scheduled to review the section that includes Tonner Canyon on June 23. Public hearings on the General Plan continue each Tuesday at 7 p.m. through July 14 in the South Coast Air Quality Management District Building, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar.