Change is in the atmosphere of Twentynine Palms. Reporter David Haldane attended a meeting last night that took a major step towards ushering it in…
Out with the old, in with the new! That was the gist of last night’s joint meeting of the Twentynine Palms City Council and Planning Commission, which reached consensus on rescinding a downtown revitalization plan in effect for the last five years.
The problem: many of its provisions contradict the city’s goal of creating a “walkable, pedestrian friendly” downtown. In particular, the Downtown Revitalization Specific Plan—adopted in 2012 and amended the following year—doesn’t conform to the boundaries of Project Phoenix, includes design standards inimical to economic development, imposes overly restrictive allowable land uses, and is generally out of date.
The Council promised to formally rescind the plan in the next few months, after which the Planning Commission will begin formulating a better ordinance to eventually replace it.
In the meantime, staffers said, standard building procedures will apply.
