For the past two decades, the City of Grand Terrace has contemplated the development of vacant and underdeveloped property immediately east of the I-215 freeway. In late 2007, the City Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MarVentures, a development firm based in Los Angeles, to prepare a development plan that would provide for the following:

• Provide retail and services for the residents of the City.
• Generate sales and property tax to support City services including police, roads, and recreation.
• Provide an aesthetically pleasing entrance to the community.

In response to these needs, MarVentures and the City have begun work on a Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report for approximately 100 acres located south of Barton Road, west of Michigan Street, and north of Pico Street. The proposed Specific Plan is being sponsored by the City and its Community Redevelopment Agency and is funded by MarVentures. Stantec, Inc., a major land development consulting firm, is under contract to prepare the Specific Plan. Michael Brandman Associates has been contracted to prepare the Environmental Impact Report.

In an effort to seek public input regarding the project, a Community Meeting open to the public is scheduled for May 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Community Room. At that meeting, representatives of the City, the developer, and the consulting team will seek input and comments regarding how the area will be developed. This input will be used in developing the Specific Plan. Once a draft Specific Plan is complete, a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be prepared. The EIR will evaluate all potential impacts to the environmental and community including, but not limited to traffic, air quality, noise, aesthetics, biologic resources, water quality, utilities and public services, and geotechnical issues. For those issues that could result in potential impacts, mitigation measures will be identified that will be incorporated into the development of the project.

Once complete, the Specific Plan and EIR will be available for public comment. The project will also be heard at formal public hearings before the City Planning Commission and City Council where additional public comment will be solicited prior to any decisions regarding the project’s approval.

A renewal notice will be sent to all existing business license owners. To avoid penalties, please be sure to renew your license prior to February 1, 2008. Be sure to read your renewal notice carefully if you do not plan to renew for the new year.

The City of Grand Terrace is excited to announce that it will be holding its 2008 Grand Terrace Days Parade, Festival, and Car Show on Saturday, June 14th. This will be a very special event as the City celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. Mark your calendars as this will be an event that the entire family can come to and enjoy together.

This year’s festival includes a parade and a car show and is themed “Racing to the Finish Line.” The parade will feature race cars and classic cars from the Riverside International Auto Museum. One of the most exciting announcements is that the event will feature Gillian Zucker, President of the California Auto Club Speedway, as Grand Marshal of the parade. The parade will begin at 9:30 am on the corner of Barton Rd. and Michigan St. and will continue through Barton Rd. and turn south at Mt. Vernon Ave. Please be aware of road closures on Saturday, June 14th, for this event.

When the parade concludes, the festival will commence at the top field of Richard Rollins Community Park on DeBerry St. The festival will include live entertainment, a variety of food vendors, games and contests for the whole family, and even a honey tasting event that is unique to Grand Terrace’s heritage.

The festival will also include a classic car show, which will be held on the middle field of Richard Rollins Community Park. The car show will be a very exciting event and will feature everything from antique cars and hot rods to race cars. There will be a live DJ at the car show ensuring a great time for the whole family! Some of the awards that will be given to car show registrants include Best of Show, Best Paint, Best Engine, Best Classic, People’s Choice, and many more. The car show will run from 10 am to 2 pm and award winners will be announced at 1:30 pm.

This year’s Grand Terrace Days will be an event you won’t want to miss! There will be fun and excitement for everyone who attends. The parade, festival, and car show will include everything from great food and live entertainment to contests, prizes, and fun for the whole family! We encourage you to get to the parade early so you don’t miss the kick-off racecars that will be heading the parade in “Racing to the Finish Line!”
[Additional info...]

On Saturday, June 14th from 7 am – 12 pm, Fire Station #23 located at 22582 City Center Ct. in Grand Terrace will be holding its Annual Pancake Breakfast. The breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, and coffee at only $4.00 for adults and $3.00 for children. This will be a fantastic breakfast that will begin before the City begins its annual Grand Terrace Days Festival, Parade, and Car Show, which is held on this very same day starting at 9:30 am.

Tickets to the pancake breakfast can be purchased in advance at the station or can be purchased the day of the event. All proceeds from this event will go to purchase life-saving equipment devices such as the jaws-of-life and infrared fire detection devices. The fire department’s current life-saving devices have all been purchased with money raised at past pancake breakfasts.

This pancake breakfast is a will be a unique, once-a-year only opportunity for you and your entire family to get to eat at the fire station. You will get to see Station 23 and interact with all of Grand Terrace’s brave fire fighters. With great food and all of the proceeds going to a great cause, this will be one breakfast you won’t want to miss!

30th Anniversary Events
Celebrating 30 “Grand” Years in 2008

Founded in 1978, The City of Grand Terrace will be celebrating its 30th Birthday in 2008. The Mayor and City Council invite everyone to participate in the events and activities planned throughout the year.

Pending Dedications:
• Dedication of the new Pocket Park
(DeBerry and Mt. Vernon) and the Red
Tail Hawk Soaring over Blue Mountain
Bronze Statue
• Time Capsule installation
• Dedication of the Tile Mural project
• Ribbon cutting for the Orange Grove
Parkway

Grand Terrace Library
Marley and Me -Community Book Reading Feb 9th- March 24th
Launching on February 9th at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. with family crafts in the Community Room at City Hall.

Marley and Me Book Discussion Groups at the Library:
3/13/08 at 12 p.m.
3/24/08 at 6 p.m.

Dog Stars - Sheriff’s Canine Unit
March 15th at 11 a.m. in the Community
Room at City Hall

Family Movies with Dog Themes April 1,2, 3, at 3:30 p.m. in the Library

Walk Blue Mountain - Free
Sunday, April 20th from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the corner of Palm and Honey Hill Drive

Art Show – Historical & Cultural
Activities Committee - Free
Sunday, May 4th, 1p.m. to 4 p.m. City Hall

Grand Terrace Days “Racing to the Finish Line”
Saturday, June 14th
Parade, Festival and Car Show - Free

Concerts in the Park - Free
Friday, July 11th – Jazz Junkies at Pico Park from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept 5th – “Salute to America” at Rollins Community Park with the Riverside Concert Band 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

GT Family Film and Cartoon Festival – Rollins Park (corner of DeBerry and Mt Vernon)
Friday, June 27th – 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Free, featuring “The Bee Movie” with short films and cartoons

Friday, August 22nd – 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Free, featuring “Enchanted” with short films and cartoons

Night at the Symphony
Saturday, October 4th at the San Bernardino Symphony and After Glow VIP event with Maestro Carlo Ponti Jr.

Halloween Haunt Extraordinaire - Free
Friday, October 31st – Pico Park 5-8 p.m.

Country Fair- Free
Saturday, November 1st, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Lions Club

Grand Terrace Gala Event
Celebrating 30 “Grand” Years
Friday, October 17th at the Christ the Redeemer Hall 6 p.m. to 11p.m. (Ticket Price Pending ) [Additional info...]