Last month, Interim Twentynine Palms Development Director Matt McCleary ruled that revisions to a planned apartment complex rendered it a new project, requiring a new application. Last night, the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission held a public hearing on the developer’s appeal of that decision. Reporter Dan Stork relates what happened…
SFH Development, which originally submitted a project application in 2009, but put off building in the face of the economic recession, appealed the request for a new application. Revised plans change the project from 240 units in 30 buildings on 40 acres, to 200 units in 25 buildings on 20 acres, off Condor Road, adjacent to the Marine Base. A representative of the developer, as well as one of the individual investors, indicated that their main concern was additional fees they might incur with a new project application, beyond the $22 thousand dollars already assessed. They argued that the project changes were “evolutionary” and not “conceptual”, and should not be regarded as defining a new project. After hearing from city engineer Richard Pederson on the need for new hydrology and traffic studies, and from Marine Base liaison Jim Ricker on lack of impact information, the Commissioners voted to deny the appeal. However, they did recommend that the City Council work with the developer on the fee schedule. Then they turned to another study session on Development Code review and revision.
TWENTYNINE PALMS PLANNING COMMISSION DENIES APPEAL ON APARTMENT COMPLEX
