For Immediate Release, June 9, 2017

Legal Settlement Reached Over Tapestry Development in Southern California

Agreement Protects Thousand Acres for Arroyo Toad, Requires Significant Rooftop Solar

HESPERIA, Calif.— The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society have reached a settlement agreement and dismissed their lawsuit against the developers of the Tapestry development in the Southern California city of Hesperia.

The agreement requires the permanent protection of more than 1,070 acres; the creation of wildlife corridors to connect open spaces; the banning of off-road vehicles; and the removal of cows, bullfrogs and nonnative predators. These requirements are tailored to protect the endangered arroyo toad and its critical habitat.

“The beleaguered arroyo toad is in danger from overdevelopment throughout its range, and this agreement preserves critical habitat for the unique toad population on the high desert side of the Transverse Ranges,” said Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist at the Center. “It will help to ensure there's high-quality habitat for this amazing little animal to reproduce and thrive in the area.”

The settlement also puts in place significant restrictions on development at the site, including mandating the generation of 2 kilowatts of rooftop solar energy for every 1,000 square feet of any public, residential and commercial development.

“Requiring major investments in rooftop solar will protect our climate by ensuring that most energy needs of any future development will be met on-site,” said John Buse, senior counsel at the Center. “The agreement will substantially reduce the project's carbon footprint and sets a higher standard for other developers in Southern California.”

The agreement also makes significant strides to reduce and offset the development's impacts on the local community.

“The settlement preserves most of the scenic Summit Valley, which High Desert residents have treasured for decades, both for its rural qualities as well as for its outstanding wildlife habitat," said Bryan Baker, Conservation Chair for the Mojave Group of the Sierra Club.

“This agreement will provide much-needed protections for wildlife and their habitat in the high desert, in particular the endangered arroyo toad,” added Dave Goodward with the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society.  

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.3 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

The San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, with about 2,000 members dedicated to preserving the habitat in the area, not just for birds, but for other wildlife, and to maintain the quality of life in and around San Bernardino County.

The San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club is the local Inland Empire chapter of the national Sierra Club, a nonprofit organization with 732,000 members dedicated to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the wild places of the earth.