The Yucca Valley Planning Commission is paving the way for new vending requirements.
The Yucca Valley Planning Commission meeting began with four public hearings on policy issues that have been of recent discussion. The first was to amend the Land Use Compliance Review requirements to include Irrigation and Landscape Review. The second was to update the code on solar energy systems to comply with recent state changes; Town Staff specified that systems must not exceed the maximum allowed height of primary buildings, which is 35 feet. The Commission approved both new ordinances to move to the Town Council.
The third hearing was related to mobile food vendors and food vending vehicles; this topic was first raised at the Commission meeting on May 7 and has remained an ongoing topic of discussion. Town Staff has detailed the appropriate permit types that various vendors can apply for, specified by type, or whether they operate on private property or public property. Vendors must not operate within 200 feet of a business selling similar products, and must be within 200 feet of a hand wash station to comply with the State Health and Safety Code.
The amendments were approved for Council review; Kristy Meeler, owner of the Happy Cooker, was in attendance and spoke with gratitude at the progress made by the Commission.
“I want to thank you for getting us this far. We were shut down on December 12; today is August 27, and we are much further than we were before.”
The fourth hearing concerned street and sidewalk vending; Town Staff updated language in the code to set restrictions on such displays, including that they must remain below 25 percent of property frontage. The Commission raised questions on the total percent of the building that could sustain vending displays and voted to continue the issue to a future meeting.
Town Staff then presented the Planning Commission with a report on proposed regulations for swap meets and commercial special events. The language makes the distinction between swap meets and farmers’ markets, the latter of which should be held on a minimum 2-acre parcel size, be located at least 250 feet from Highways 62 and 247, and be composed of 75 percent business activity concerning food products.
Several Commissioners took issue with the proposed distance from the highways, arguing, as Commissioner Thomas did, that visibility is key to successful special events.
“They still need to be able to easily access it and easily see it from the highway so they know it’s going on. Constituents have talked to me and said it’s great that we’re working to bring farmers’ markets to Yucca Valley. Everybody is waiting for this to happen so let’s make a big deal.”
The Commission provided Town Staff with direction for additional research and will address the issue at a future meeting.
