Residents vs. offroaders

Residents, offroaders gear up for land battle

WINE COUNTRY: A dispute between off-roaders and homeowners will go to the planning commission.

11:16 PM PDT on Sunday, July 3, 2005

By ROCKY SALMON / The Press-Enterprise

Limiting Off-Roading

The Riverside Planning Commission will vote on a new off-roading ordinance for Riverside County at its Wednesday meeting in the board chambers of the county building, 4080 Lemon Street. Provisions of the proposed ordinance:

PERMITS: Require any homeowner to get a permit for an off-roading track.

BARRIERS: Create 50-foot property setbacks for tracks.

TIME: Limit days of riding to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

HOURS: Limit hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time.

RIDERS: Limit the number of riders according to acreage.

More information: www.tlma.co.riverside.ca.us/planning

Source: Riverside County Planning Department.

Dan Matrisciano moved to the wine country east of Temecula hoping to find solitude and a chance to view nature undisturbed. Instead, he says he spends days breathing dust kicked up by motorcycles and listens to off-roaders rev their engines.

Kim Cervantes put down stakes in the same area for that same solitude and a place to ride off-road vehicles. After eight years, new residents have moved in and want her children to stop practicing their hobby.

Both sides are clashing as the wine country has erupted into a battle between off-roading enthusiasts and those who want them gone.

On Wednesday, the Riverside County Planning Commission will vote on a new law that could limit the days off-roaders can ride and require homeowners with tracks to get permits. Both sides have said they are not backing down.

The law would affect residents countywide, where similar battles have erupted in Aguanga, Nuevo, Jurupa and the Cleveland National Forest south of Corona.

"There are two equally understandable points of view and we have to try and come up with a solution that addresses concerns on both sides," said Ray Smith, county spokesman. ....................

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