Grand Terrace to Assess Housing, Development Needs

A community meeting is slated for Oct. 20 as Grand Terrace looks for community input regarding a five-year plan to identify community development and affordable housing needs in Grand Terrace and throughout San Bernardino County. The public meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Grand Terrace City Hall, 22795 Barton Road, to solicit the unique opinions of residents. A release issued by the city states that a separate study examining barriers that keep people from accessing affordable housing in the area will also be conducted. Once the five-year plan is completed it will "set priorities for investment of federal grant funds to address those needs in our community," according to the release. This process will be "heavily influenced" by the opinions and perceptions of Grand Terrace residents, the release states. Residents may voice their ideas and concerns at the meeting, which may be incorporated into the county's plans. An online survey will also receive public comment and will remain open until 5 p.m. Nov. 17 at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SanBernardinoCounty. The community development plan will "assess the current housing market, discuss characteristics of the county population, identify community improvement priorities, and outline a plan to fund and implement them," according to the release, while the fair housing study will identify barriers to equal housing access and will "propose fair and affordable housing strategies to overcome them." Public comment is welcome on draft versions of the plan, which will be posted online at www.grandterrace-ca.gov beginning February 2015.