One of Southern California’s largest energy storage projects moves forward in Desert Center
Construction is underway on the Athos project in Desert Center, a significant new development that will introduce more than 800 battery packs designed to provide large‑scale energy storage for Southern California. This system will support regional reliability and help reduce utility costs by storing energy when demand is low and releasing it when demand peaks.
Across three interconnected developments currently being built, the Athos project will deliver more than 500 megawatts of total capacity. This represents one of the region’s largest energy‑storage efforts and a major milestone in long‑term sustainability planning.
TLMA extends sincere appreciation to our dedicated inspectors who continue to work diligently in the intense summer heat. Their commitment ensures the safe and efficient progress of this high‑impact infrastructure project.
Riverside County modernizes ADU rules, expanding housing options for residents
An AI generated image of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
Riverside County is updating its rules for small-scale housing options such as Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior ADUs. On July 8, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider proposed updates to the Additional Residential Accommodations Ordinance and ultimately recommended approval. The Board of Supervisors later agreed and officially approved the ordinance update on Sept. 1.
What’s changing?
- The County reorganized and simplified existing regulations so they’re easier to understand.
- ADU and Junior ADU regulations were updated to comply with State law.
- Homeowners can now build larger ADUs up to 1,600 square feet.
- Senate Bill (SB) 9 Units – another housing option allowed by State law – were added to the County’s list of Additional Residential Accommodations.
The updated list of Additional Residential Accommodation (ARA) housing types now includes:
- Accessory Dwelling Units
- Junior ADUs
- SB 9 Units
- Second Units
- Guest Quarters
- Ranchets
- Multiple Owner Group (MOG) Units
Other updates:
- Mobile homes and manufactured housing will follow the same development standards as single‑family homes as required by State law.
- The Planning Director can now refer projects to the Planning Commission when warranted.
Why these changes?
As California’s housing laws continue to evolve, counties must stay in compliance. This can be challenging at the local level. Some State laws limit local control over issues like parking for ADUs. Riverside County is making updates where we can. For example, the new rules allow larger ADUs than the State minimum to give property owners more flexibility and support overall housing needs. SB 9 Units were added to help address the housing shortage. Under SB 9, property owners can build a second main house on their lot, or split an eligible lot to build a house on the new property, provided environmental and safety requirements are met.
What happens next?
County staff in Planning and Building & Safety will soon receive training on how to apply the updated rules and requirements. More information is available on the project webpage.
County tightens short‑term rental rules to improve neighborhood quality and transparency
On August 25, the Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 927.3 to help improve the way short‑term rentals are managed in our communities.
These changes are designed to make enforcement more responsive and more effective, giving Code Enforcement clearer tools to address issues when they arise. The updates include new thresholds for citations, expanded enforcement hours, and a more direct response process so concerns can be handled quickly and consistently.
The Board also directed staff to create a public complaint portal so residents can easily see where concerns have been reported and what actions have been taken, increasing transparency and building trust.
Lastly, the Board ended the temporary moratorium on new short‑term rental permits in B‑Bar H Ranch and Thousand Palms after data showed a significant decrease in complaints.
These updates aim to support quieter neighborhoods, clearer expectations for hosts, and a more balanced approach that respects both residents and responsible short‑term rental operators.
Major milestone: I‑10/Monroe project clears key approvals to move ahead
The I‑10/Monroe Street interchange project in Indio is moving closer to breaking ground. The team recently reached several important milestones, including final approval of the project’s plans and environmental requirements, as well as clearing all right‑of‑way needs. These achievements allowed the project to secure $90 million in state and federal funding. With a total cost of $180 million, it will be one of the largest infrastructure improvements our Transportation Department has ever delivered.
Progressing a project of this scale required extensive coordination across multiple divisions and collaboration with numerous external stakeholders. The dedication and teamwork behind these efforts have helped position the project for successful delivery and long-term regional benefit.
As construction begins, this milestone marks an important step toward improving traffic flow, safety, and connectivity along a vital corridor in Riverside County.
Collaboration leads to major community cleanup: 63 encampments addressed, tons of rubbish removed
Code Enforcement recently joined the Bureau of Reclamation, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Coachella Valley Water District, and other regional partners in a coordinated effort to address encampments, accumulated rubbish, and public nuisance concerns in the eastern Coachella Valley.
The effort focused on outreach, education, connecting individuals with available community resources, and addressing public health and safety concerns. Through regular communication and coordination, participating agencies worked together to identify areas of concern, coordinate cleanup efforts, and improve conditions for surrounding communities.
Community Impact
Across the project areas, 63 encampments were identified, including:
- 21 encampments at the Stonewater 800 properties — 0 remaining
- 1 encampment on Coachella Valley Water District properties — 0 remaining
- 41 encampments identified at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation properties.
The cleanup efforts have also resulted in the removal of significant amounts of accumulated rubbish, including approximately 30 tons of debris from the Stonewater 800 area and 12,500 square feet of rubbish from Coachella Valley Water District properties.
This collaborative effort brought together agencies and partners from across the region, including the Bureau of Reclamation, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Code Enforcement, Coachella Valley Water District, Cal Fire, Imperial Irrigation District, Department of Environmental Health, and the cities of Coachella and Indio. Addressing complex community concerns requires collaboration. By combining outreach, education, resource coordination, enforcement, and cleanup efforts, Riverside County and its partners are working together to restore affected areas and create safer, cleaner, and healthier communities throughout the Coachella Valley.
Riverside County celebrates major milestone for two new affordable housing communities
Riverside County leaders, partner agencies, and community members gathered in Thermal to celebrate the groundbreaking of the José Perez Polanco Park and Luis Bojorquez Polanco Park affordable housing communities.
Led by CalMex Rural Development LLC, these projects will provide safe, affordable housing for farmworker families in the Eastern Coachella Valley.
This milestone reflects the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to expanding housing opportunities and strengthening our communities.
French Valley celebrates three major community projects, including new Skyview Pedestrian Bridge
Members of the Transportation Department team gather with Supervisor Chuck Washington at the ribbon cutting ceremony
Riverside County officials and community partners gathered in French Valley on Aug. 8 to celebrate the completion of three significant projects aimed at supporting the region’s continued growth: the Skyview Road Pedestrian Bridge, the French Valley Discovery Hangar and the French Valley Early Learning Center.
For TLMA, the event highlighted the official opening of the Skyview Road Pedestrian Bridge, a new connection designed to improve safety for children, families and residents traveling between key community destinations. The structure spans approximately 370 feet across French Valley Creek and includes an 18‑foot‑wide walkway, low‑profile lighting and architectural features that enhance visibility while blending with the surrounding landscape. The bridge provides pedestrians and cyclists with a safer, more reliable route through the community.
Together, the three projects represent ongoing investments in infrastructure, services and amenities that support French Valley’s development and quality of life.
TLMA expressed appreciation to Supervisor Chuck Washington for his support, along with the agency’s Transportation team and the contractors, consultants and field crews who contributed to the bridge’s completion. The Agency also thanked its county partners, including the Office of Economic Development, First 5 Riverside County and the Riverside County Library System, for their collaboration and shared commitment to the French Valley community.
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View of entrance to Skyview Pedestrian Bridge
TLMA issues alert: Sophisticated scammers targeting customers
TLMA is alerting staff and customers to a sophisticated email scam in which impostors pose as Planning Department employees and request fake entitlement, planning, or permit‑related payments.
Recently, TLMA identified several fraudulent emails that looked remarkably convincing. Scammers used real employee names, County logos, accurate project details, and official‑looking invoices. In one case, a customer was tricked into wiring $6,560 to a fraudulent account. Another customer working on a major project in Riverside County lost $20,000 after receiving a fake wire‑transfer request.
These messages looked convincing at first glance, but the email address and invoice details didn’t match ours. This is a reminder of how sophisticated these scams have become.
A key red flag is any request for a wire transfer. TLMA never uses wire transfers for customer payments. All legitimate payments are made online through the PLUS system or in person at the customer service counter.
To help protect the community, TLMA launched the PASS the Checkpoint campaign, which encourages everyone to slow down, verify, and stay safe before acting on unexpected or suspicious messages.
Before you click, reply, or pay: PASS the Checkpoint
- Pause
- Assess
- Seek Official Verification
- Stay Protected
A few extra moments of caution could prevent a costly mistake.
Customers who believe they have received a fraudulent message or made a payment to a scammer should file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov, and notify TLMA so staff can track scam trends and assist those affected.
For verification or questions, contact the Planning Department at (951) 955‑3200 or Planning@RivCo.org.
ALUC moves forward with new fees and March ARB plan update
March Air Reserve Base Compatibility Plan map. Photo enhanced by AI.
The Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) has implemented new fees which began Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. These include a supplemental fee that will help fund upcoming updates to Airport Land Use Compatibility Plans.
The ALUC held a public hearing on Aug. 11 and unanimously approved Resolution 2026-02, which proposes updates to the March Air Reserve Base Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan.
Discover how GIS shapes our communities at Riverside County’s 2026 GIS Day
Riverside County will host its annual GIS Day on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Riverside County Administrative Center. Join us for an exciting day where County departments and local organizations showcase how they use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to serve our communities. Explore live demonstrations, connect with professionals, and learn about exciting career pathways in public service!
Event Information
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: County Administrative Center Board Chambers
Address: 4080 Lemon St, Riverside, CA 92501
Website: Riverside County GIS Day 2026
TLMA's interactive mural draws a crowd at State of the Third District
TLMA participated in the State of the Third District on Sept. 10 with an interactive mural highlighting key Agency projects in the Third District, including the Skyview Pedestrian Bridge, the forthcoming French Valley Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, the Winchester Community Plan and improvements to Pauba Road.
Leaders from city and county governments and the business community were invited to contribute to the mural through a color‑by‑numbers activity at our booth, allowing attendees to help “bring to life” the projects that are shaping their communities. The activity was highly popular and sparked meaningful conversations about local infrastructure, planning, and the work TLMA is doing to support residents across the region.
Hosted by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington, the event emphasized building strong, supportive communities for children and families. With its new mixer‑style format, attendees were able to engage directly with County departments and learn more about services, initiatives, and priorities throughout the district.
Riverside County surveyors shine at Women Surveyors Summit 2026
Nine members of our Survey Division attended the Women Surveyors Summit 2026 in San Diego. They spent the week with hundreds of others from across the profession, sharing ideas, building connections, and bringing home new perspectives for our division.
The City of San Diego also presented a proclamation that highlighted the many contributions women make to land surveying.The banner at the event said it perfectly, this is what a surveyor looks like. We’re proud to have these nine representing Riverside County.
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This email was sent from the Riverside County Transportation and Land Management Agency. To contact TLMA visit our website at rctlma.org.
