Last night’s meeting of the Twentynine Palms Planning Commission featured three public hearings, including a lengthy review of how the city handles Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs).
The first hearing dealt with so-called ‘landlocked’ parcels – those without access to a public road. Instead of limiting building permits, the commission will require the builder to sign a waiver acknowledging lack of legal access.
Due to new state regulations, the second hearing pertained to a ‘clean up’ of code with regards to Development Impact Fees.
Much of the meeting was devoted to yet another lengthy discussion around the city’s VHR ordinance. Several residents and VHR owners brought their concerns to the commission, which included VHR density, the number of permits per parcel, allowing parked RVs to be rented, the required Good Neighbor class for VHR owners, the complaint process, and how VHRs are affecting the housing shortage. Commission Chair Jim Krushat, the owner of two VHRs, recused himself from the discussion.
Also of concern was the practice of oversized new structures being built specifically as VHRs not owned by locals. Indian Cove resident Kat Talley-Jones described the 5-bedroom, 2,393-square foot VHR built near her home, nicknamed The Mausoleum. “The lack of a residential requirement has incentivized building these monstrosities, instead of encouraging developers to build needed residential homes,” said Talley-Jones.
