Sonrise in the Woods faces what we hope to be the project’s final hurdle; a public hearing on January 23, 2020 at 8:30 AM. There will be expert presentations before the commissioners and county staff. We expect there’ll be time allotted for both public comment and questions. We need you to be there.
There are some strange rumors making the rounds. The fact that misinformation about our Sonrise in the Woods project is circulating doesn’t surprise us. What does is how silly it’s gotten. Apply a relatively small dose of common sense and you see that the rumors actually make very little sense.
In April of this year, 30 youths from Church of the Woods will embark on a mission to Ecuador. They will be bringing with them a sense of adventure, enthusiasm, compassion, and John 3:16. These 30 are among the best of a generation. Young people like them are the future of our church and the mountain. And they need a place to hang out.
A rumor has been circulating that the Sonrise in the Woods development will require 30 acres of land to be clear-cut. So, it’s time for us to put another rumor to bed.
Many scientists believe that there were too many trees, too close together in the San Bernardino National Forest. That was one cause for the bark beetle infestation, which, ironically, led to the removal of more than a million trees. Too many trees in proximity to one another forces them to compete for water underground and sunlight above. Thinning can increase wildlife habitat and reduces the fuel that can lead to potentially devastating fires.
The Sonrise in the Woods development is scheduled to open Easter of 2020. It will bring the mountain communities an auditorium, youth center, recreational facilities, fields, courts and more. Contrary to what some have said, we are not going to pave paradise, construct a massive parking lot, or create new traffic in Lake Arrowhead.
In 2002, we bought 37.3 acres of land in Rimforest with a blue line stream. That was the beginning of our development, Sonrise in the Woods. Early on, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors gave us a Negative Declaration, meaning there was no substantial evidence that the development would negatively impact the environment. Never-the-less we’ve been willing to address issues voiced by the community and environmental groups.
Everyone on this mountain contributes value and strengthens Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding region. We all have responsibility. We all have purpose.
We’re honored to be able to bring Sonrise in the Woods to Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding region. Our goal has always been to create an environment that preserves the natural serenity of our mountain and harmonizes with the local ecosystem.
Over 30 years ago, when Church of the Woods opened its doors to friends, family, and the community, we started with a principle that everyone can believe in – great movements only become great once they add value and strengthen the lives of the people involved.
