Property owners in and around historic Mane Street in Pioneertown recently received a letter from County Land Use Services soliciting feedback on a proposed zoning overlay for the 46 acres that is the center of town. The proposal aims to manage redevelopment in the area by keeping it appropriate to community interests, historic preservation, and within a scale that local infrastructure can support.
On the table and awaiting approval by county planning is the culmination of years of planning, research, and community input headed by local resident and architect Ben Loescher. He calls it an attempt to turn the county’s easily ignored “Community Action Guides” into binding land use regulations. Loescher was instrumental in Pioneertown’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places and wants to maintain the development and character that earned the listing.
He says the overlay is a big deal for Pioneertown and provides a model for other areas, like Joshua Tree Village, where resource scarcity has replaced long-term Planning with an approach that only looks at an area when a development proposal is made.
The proposal, background, photos, and frequently asked questions are online at Pioneertown1946.org
