High-Density Zoning Approved, England Grove Update, City Council Preview + Earth Day Recap
Healthy East Valley Hosts Drug Free Communities Coalition with a Spotlight on Behavioral and Mental Health Resources from LLU
Investing in new heating and air conditioning equipment can lower your monthly costs, reduce repairs, and even improve your indoor air quality.
High-Density Zoning Approved, England Grove Update, City Council Preview + Earth Day Recap
More than 2,400 new homes could be built across Redlands under a sweeping rezoning plan approved by the Planning Commission on April 22, a major step in the city's push to comply with state housing law and address growing demand for affordable and diverse housing.
Why it matters: The rezoning is required under California's Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), which assigned Redlands a target of 3,516 new housing units—plus a 20% buffer—for the 2021–2029 cycle. Cities that fail to comply risk losing local control over development and may face penalties.
Details: The plan—formally known as the 2021–2029 Housing Element Rezoning Project—would reclassify 24 parcels of land throughout the city, mostly shifting commercial and industrial sites to medium- and high-density residential zones.
Planning staff explained that the proposed sites had already been identified during the city's Housing Element update process in 2022, which included public outreach and state review. This latest step aligns zoning maps with the city's approved housing plan.
Explore which parts of the city are being rezoned and read about how it will impact the city's housing inventory. Read more here.
🌳 England Grove replanting begins in May: Redlands is moving forward with plans to preserve the historic England Grove at Palm and Alvarado. Meritage Homes will begin removing trees and installing a new irrigation system in mid-May, followed by planting 784 new Cara Cara orange trees in June. The city approved the $100,000 acquisition in January and expects to finalize the deal by August. A sign posted at the site details the citrus preservation effort. Read more here.
🍊 Coming up at City Council, Tuesday: Major Contracts, Legal Updates & July 4th Plans: The Redlands City Council meets Tuesday, May 6, with a packed agenda covering everything from $2 million in infrastructure contracts and Fourth of July event approvals to legal matters involving pending lawsuits and property negotiations. The closed session starts at 5 p.m., with open session at 6 p.m. at City Hall or via Zoom. Read more here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Redlands man arrested on child porn charges: A 30-year-old Redlands man was arrested Wednesday after police say he used his neighbors’ WiFi to collect and trade more than 1,300 images of child sexual abuse material. Detectives traced the activity back to Dimas Omar Montoya after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Montoya is being held on $30,000 bail. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
💨 San Bernardino County ranks worst for smog, again: The 2025 State of the Air report is out, and San Bernardino County once again tops the nation for ozone pollution, with over 150 smog days. The American Lung Association warns that nearly half of Americans now breathe unhealthy air — even as Congress moves to block California’s strict climate policies, including its zero-emission vehicle requirements and 2035 gas car sales ban. Read the full report and what it means for local health and policy here.
Kathryne Mccann
Upgrading your heating and air conditioning system isn’t just about comfort — it can also mean big savings on your energy bills.
If your system is more than 10 years old, running constantly, or needing frequent repairs, it may be time to invest in a more efficient option. Learn what SEER and AFUE ratings mean, why proper system sizing matters, and how to take advantage of possible rebates to make your upgrade more affordable. Read more from Burgeson's Heating, A/C, Electrical, Solar & Plumbing for expert tips on making the smart choice: Why upgrading your HVAC system could cut energy costs
Right now save up to $5000 when you upgrade with a new HVAC System with Burgeson's Heating, A/C, Electrical, Solar & Plumbing:
Despite the rain, hundreds of volunteers showed up across Redlands for Earth Day 2025—planting trees, picking up trash, learning to compost, and repairing well-loved items at the popular Repair Café.
The day ended with a powerful joint statement from 11 local faith communities calling climate change “one of the most urgent moral issues of our time.”
Read the full story and see what made this year’s event so special.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🌏 Faith leaders unite in Earth Day message: The Interfaith Climate Action Coalition of Redlands includes leaders from local faith communities who have met over the past year to explore how people of faith can work together to address climate change. Their message, shared during the Redlands Earth Day celebration, emphasizes shared values, spiritual responsibility, and collective action. Read more here.
Opinion
🛶 Two Friends, 500 Miles, One Mighty River: At the latest Redlands Forum, local adventurers Kim Clark and Dave Maupin shared highlights from their 500-mile canoe journey down the Mississippi River. From close calls with cottonmouths to fast-moving lock exits, their talk was equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. Read how their multi-year quest and decades-long friendship continue to inspire. Read more here.
Dave Card
May 6
5:30 - 6:30 pm
Join award-winning author and historian Mindy Johnson on May 6, as she shines a light on her groundbreaking discovery of the woman behind the earliest surviving hand-drawn animation, Bessie Mae Kelley. While Kelley designed and directed animated films alongside other pioneering American animators such as J. R. Bray and Max Fleischer, her name was lost to history—until now.
Register today to attend either in person or online.
From building haunted houses in his parents’ garage to creating world-famous attractions for Disneyland, Garner Holt has spent five decades turning imagination into reality. Now, with the upcoming launch of Garner’s Garage in Redlands, he’s inspiring the next generation of creators to explore careers in STEM and STEAM. Learn more about his journey and the new makerspace shaping young innovators. Read more here.
We’re excited to highlight the outstanding athletes named to this season’s All-Citrus Belt League teams across basketball, wrestling, girls water polo, and girls soccer.
These student-athletes have demonstrated remarkable skill, hard work, and sportsmanship, earning recognition as some of the top players in the league.
Explore the link below to see the full rosters and join us in celebrating their achievements:
Community Forward Redlands
📌 Fri. May 2, 7:00 pm: The Great YMCA Circus Opening Night: Experience the magic of Circus Fantasy, this year’s production of The Great Y Circus ® —Redlands' own youth circus held the first three weekends in May. This year’s show will take you on a tour of a mythical world filled with legendary creatures and beasts from long-lost tales, brought to life by performers as young as 3 years old. Read more here.
📌 Tues. May 6, 5:30 - 6:30pm - Redlands Forum: Bessie Mae Kelley & Women at the Dawn of an Industry. Join award-winning author and historian Mindy Johnson on May 6, as she shines a light on her groundbreaking discovery of the woman behind the earliest surviving hand-drawn animation, Bessie Mae Kelley. Register to attend here
📌 Tues. May 6, 6:30 pm - AAUW Branch Meeting: The Redlands branch of the American Association of University Women will host Anne Thorward, president of Newcomers Access Center, as guest speaker at its Tuesday, May 6, evening meeting. Register to attend the dinner at 5:30pm in the Casa Loma Room at the University of Redlands. Read more here.
📌 Sat. May 10, 7:30 pm - Redlands Symphony Cinematic Soundscapes: Bask in the thrill, adventure, and romance of cinema's greatest scores. Get swept away in the music from "Jaws," "Jurassic Park," "Star Wars," "Gone with the Wind," "Cinema Paradiso," "Psycho," and more. Experience the Golden Age of Hollywood to the movies of today, expertly performed by the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. Learn more about this concert here.
📌 Fri. May 16, 10:00 - 11:30 am - Drug Free Communities Coalition Meeting - This month Healthy East Valley's community meeting will focus on behavioral and mental health, a growing area of concern as youth and families across the Inland Empire face increased stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. Read more here.
📌 Sun. May 25 - 6am - 6pm - Redlands Firefighters Car Show: Join us for a day of cars, food, and fun for the whole family all for an amazing cause. Show your car, truck, cycle, or special interest vehicle in the heart of beautiful Downtown Redlands while showing your support for our community. Enjoy live music, delicious food and refreshments, and shopping from local vendors. Register here.
📌 Sat - Sun, May 24 - 25 - Festival of Arts and Art in the Park + Youth Art Expo: The Redlands Art Association artists will be hanging their masterpieces in Smiley Park for Art in the Park alongside talented artists from across the county participating in the 13th annual Festival of Arts. Opens at 10 am Memorial Day Weekend.
Redlands Educational Partnership (REP) raised funds for local schools on April 25 by hosting a lively basketball game between the Harlem Wizards and the REP Rebounders, a team of Redlands Unified School District teachers, administrators and staff, at Redlands East Valley High School.
More than 700 students, families and community members attended the event, which featured slam dunks, trick shots and comedy that kept the crowd cheering, laughing and dancing throughout the night.
Read more and view pictures from the night here:
Community Forward Redlands
🍊 Want to advertise to our highly engaged growing audience? Email hello@communityforwardredlands.com or fill out this form.
😄 Thank you to our paid subscribers and sponsors who make Community Forward possible!
📩 Missed a newsletter? Catch up here.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
