Yucca Valley to host groundbreaking ceremony for aquatics center next Wednesday (9/11)

After years of planning, Yucca Valley’s Aquatics and Recreation Center is turning from vision to reality. The Town of Yucca Valley will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Aquatics and Recreation Center on Wednesday, September 11. Also called the Yucca Valley ARC, the facility will span 40,000 square feet and integrate with existing resources at Brehm Park. Its state-of-the-art amenities include three pools, a therapy and fitness space, an indoor gymnasium, administrative support offices,…

Final Weekend for Theatre 29’s Clue: a fast-moving, charmingly funny production

I had the pleasure of attending a matinee performance of Theatre 29’s production of “Clue,” directed by Kathryn Ferguson. Adapted for the stage by Sandy Rustin, the play is based on the screenplay from the 1985 film written by Jonathan Lynn. Both draw heavy inspiration from the classic Hasbro board game, in which players must determine which character committed a gruesome murder. The role is seamlessly transferred to audience members in this production, making for a smart, engaging, and wildly…

Proposed travel center to be built on Tribal Land, west end of Yucca Valley

Update: 12:35 PM on 8/30/24 - The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians sent a response, so we've removed the line that stated the opposite. The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is proposing to build a new travel center in Yucca Valley. The proposed site will be on the southeast corner of Highway 62 and Camino Del Cielo, located across the highway from the Field Station Joshua Tree Hotel. The travel center will not be subject to approvals from the Town of Yucca Valley, as…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission: mobile food permits, sidewalk vendors, swap meets

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission is paving the way for new vending requirements. The Yucca Valley Planning Commission meeting began with four public hearings on policy issues that have been of recent discussion. The first was to amend the Land Use Compliance Review requirements to include Irrigation and Landscape Review. The second was to update the code on solar energy systems to comply with recent state changes; Town Staff specified that systems must not exceed the maximum allowed height…

Local animal shelters experience high animal volumes during the summer months

Across the country, summer is the busiest time of year for animal shelters, partly due to increased travel by pet owners as well as breeders contributing to the overpopulation problem with animals they bred in spring. This trend also holds true in the Morongo Basin, with our shelters feeling the strain of high volume and slowed adoption rates. Shelters such as the Joshua Tree No-Kill Shelter, the Palms-N-Paws Animal Shelter in Twentynine Palms, and the Yucca Valley Animal Shelter have reported…

Yucca Valley puts out call for new public art

As part of its Public Arts Program, the Town of Yucca Valley is seeking submissions for a new, temporary art installation to brighten the town. The art will be displayed at the plaza outside the Yucca Valley Branch Library, located at the southwest corner of Twentynine Palms Highway and Highway 247. The selected artist’s submission will be installed in January, remaining on display through November 2025. Yucca Valley’s Public Arts Program aims to add vibrancy to the landscape, showcase art in…

Yucca Valley Town Council votes to move forward with four town development projects

Following an update from Assistant Fire Chief Bill Villarino, the Yucca Valley Town Council received the annual Code Compliance Report. The town did see an uptick in short-term rental violations this year; staff advised this is likely due to rentals being bought and sold, with new owners unaware of the Town's permit process. Notably, there were only two recorded violations for street and sidewalk vending this year. The issue of unpermitted sidewalk vending has been addressed at several…

Yucca Valley Town Council to move forward with widening Buena Vista & Yucca Mesa intersection, other town projects

Summer is nearing its end, and the Town of Yucca Valley Town Council plans to move forward on various town improvement projects as we head into busy fall. Following the presentation of the annual Code Compliance report, the Yucca Valley Town Council will consider four different town improvement projects, beginning with the roads. Town Staff will present plans for the Berm Repair and Replacement Project. The town's current berms, or rolled asphalt curbs, have sustained damage from rainstorms…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission votes to amend Development Code, approve partial Black Bear display

The Yucca Valley Planning Commission voted to approve part of a display for the external design plan of Black Bear Diner. The Yucca Valley Planning Commission meeting began with three public hearings to amend the Development Code. The first was related to minor code adjustments to ensure consistency between the 2014 General Plan Update and the 2022 updated Housing and Safety Elements. The State amended its laws to make it easier to access specific housing resources, such as residential care or…

Yucca Valley Planning Commission: Development Code changes, Black Bear Diner mascots

The Black Bear Diner bears are back on the Yucca Valley Planning Commission’s agenda. The Yucca Valley Planning Commission will kick off their meeting with a public hearing on several amendments to the town’s Development Code. Following the adoption of a General Plan Update in 2014 and updated Housing and Safety Elements in 2022, Town Staff has worked to identify various minor code adjustments to ensure consistency between the two guidelines. The State has also amended its laws regarding the…