Listen here:
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission faced a full agenda last night along with an unusually packed room consisting primarily of those wanting to appeal a Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permit application in Indian Cove.
Last night’s meeting of the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission was full of pushback. The first public hearing was an appeal to deny the application for a Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permit at Sullivan and Mantoya Roads on the city’s western edge. Resident Kat Talley-Jones, representing herself and several other neighbors, made an argument to the commission that because the three-bedroom structure with an additional two-bedroom unit in the back was intentionally built not as a residential home but as a VHR, it should be denied a permit. Talley-Jones quoted from marketing materials obtained from property owners, Evoque Modern LLC, that describe the properties as “high-end boutique hotels.”
“We live in Twentynine Palms because it is quiet and dark. We enjoy the night skies and all the wildlife. Please consider denying this permit to those who have no stake in this community,” said Talley-Jones.
Commissioner Max Walker argued back, “Just because it has not had a long-term occupant, does not make it illegal to get a permit.” Walker then offered a hypothetical, “So if they rented it out for six months and then made it a VHR, would that make a difference?”
The property owner and developer, Josh Siegel, was also present and addressed the commission stating that the project had taken four years and faced many delays due to covid. Siegel mentioned that the property would be used for his family as well as a “high-end retreat.”
Several residents, including representatives from the nearby Vipassana Meditation Center, also pleaded to deny the VHR application citing noise concerns, but as Commissioner Jim Krushat stated, “The commission can only enforce the development code. It is a property owners’ right to use their property as they see fit. And, as it stands now, we see many VHRs going back on the rental market.”
Resident Cindy Bernard, who served as a citizen representative on the Vacation Home Rental Committee, addressed the council and admitted that they had not foreseen this particular situation. “We should have considered that there has to be some period of residential use that might act as a deterrent. At this point, we are incentivizing VHR construction over residential homes,” Bernard said.
The buildings in question still await final inspection and the VHR permit has been placed on a wait list as the city nears the 500 VHR cap. Despite the pushback, the commission approved the permit application with the understanding that the two dwellings could not be separately rented as VHRs but only as one booking.
Next was an application for a Conditional Use Permit for a 3,000-square-foot car wash located south of Twentynine Palms Highway, between Pine and Oasis Avenues. Commissioner Walker stated that while he welcomes the car wash into the community, he is opposed to the building design. “It looks like it’s about to come down,” he said.
Owner Kerri DePierro stated that she was no fan of the design either but that a previous planning commissioner had intervened with the suggestion. After noting that two commissioners were absent that evening and noting that “architecture is subjective,” Community Development Director Keith Gardner suggested that the CUP be approved that evening. DePierro agreed, noting that she did not want to lose any more time in advancing the project. The commission approved the permit 2-1 with Walker dissenting.
Next, the commission considered recommending that the city council amend the city’s Development Code to reflect requirements for Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations. This was quickly approved meaning that approximately 20 percent of parking spaces must now be EV capable.
Animal Control Supervisor Rick Boyd then took the podium to educate the commission on pot-bellied pigs. Boyd’s department was asking the commission to approve an amendment to the Development Code to allow for the keeping of pot-bellied pigs as pets in certain zones and with restrictions. The pigs cannot exceed 125 pounds or be taller than 18 inches at the shoulder. They must be spayed or neutered, and the males must be de-tusked. “They are very clean, make no noise and some you can even litter box-train,” said Boyd. After some curious questioning, the commission approved the amendment.
The commission ended the meeting by approving amendments to the Housing, Safety and Land Use Elements of the General Plan – all required by state law.
