It was a lengthy meeting for the Twentynine Palms City Council last night as the council and many residents and business owners gathered to discuss a possible moratorium on vacation home rentals (VHR) in the city while the council reviews and updates the city ordinance in an ad hoc committee. Cassidy Taylor was there and has the results of the heated moratorium debate…
The tension at the Twentynine Palms City Council meeting could be felt by attendees as the future of a VHR moratorium came to a vote. VHRs have been a hot topic in the city as Project Phoenix and the relocation of the JTNP Visitor Center downtown shines a bright light on the potential of tourism in Twentynine Palms. Currently, the city has 172 active VHRs with over 60 pending permits, and VHRs represent 2.85% of the single-family housing units in the city and 1.71% of all housing units.
Public comment was overwhelmingly against any moratorium, temporary or otherwise, as residents, business owners and VHR owners argued that VHRs bring tax dollars, tourism, employment, and improvements to Twentynine Palms. Those against a moratorium said that pausing applications for VHR permits would “shoot Twenynine Palms in the foot” and send the wrong message to people and businesses looking to invest in the city. Those who spoke in favor of a moratorium said they were not against VHRs, just the clustering of them in certain neighborhoods and the alleged impacts they have on the sanctity of neighborhoods. They wanted the moratorium to allow the city to update the ordinance without approving more VHR permits.
When council discussed their options, they first voted to have VHR permit appeals handled by the council, to take some of the weight off of the busy planning commission. The council also voted to reinstate the appeal fee of $305, effective immediately. The fee was previously being waived by the planning commission. The council also decided that Mayor Mintz and Councilmember Bilderain would serve on the ad hoc committee with planning commissioners Walker and Krushat along with three public members to update the VHR ordinance. In the end, the council voted 4-0, with Councilmember Klink recusing himself, to not enact any moratorium. The crowd at the meeting erupted in cheers and thanked the council for the decision.
