Between 40 and 50 people turned out last night for a public workshop held by the Yucca Valley Planning Commission on home occupation permits. The residents split up into small groups—with the Planning Commissioners roving around and listening and participating in the discussion—and talked about what they felt should—and shouldn’t be—in the home occupation permit regulations. Managing editor Tami Roleff listened in on the discussions, and says the views were wide-ranging…
Home-based gun sales and art studios seemed to be the top two home-based businesses on everyone’s mind last night. While most residents were against allowing home-based gun sales, not all planning commissioners agreed with the view. Yucca Valley resident Dennis Pask thought it was odd that the Town would regulate art studios. “I have art on my front lawn. Nearly everyone in my neighborhood has some kind of art on their front lawn. Throughout the city people have art on their front lawns. My neighbor… creates art. I find it very odd that he would be restricted from displaying art on his front yard because he’s an artist, while I can simply buy it and display it on my lawn.” Commissioner Steve Whitten thought the home occupation ordinance could be massaged to work for everyone. “I think it’s important for property owners to exercise their rights to a reasonable degree and one that works in harmony with neighbors.” Commissioner Vickie Bridenstine was for less regulation, not more. “They come here for freedom, they come here for wide open spaces, and I think we should allow them the freedom that they come here for. When they do their business on their property and they’re not affecting anyone else, and it’s a legal business, I don’t think that we as a governing body should be putting restrictions on them.” Some residents at the workshop were worried about the effect that heavy delivery trucks would have on the roads, and supported limiting the weight of delivery trucks. “Take a chill pill. I think we need to stop worrying about regulating everything…. We need to use some common sense.” Staff will take the public’s thoughts and ideas and present them to the Planning Commission at a future meeting.
