Yucca Valley Planning Commission pauses on recommended minimum square footage for single family residences
While it was recommended that the Planning Commission retain the Single-Family Resident minimum dwelling unit size standard of 725-square feet, local contractor Neil Rauschenberg got on the mic for public comment asking the Commission to take pause, stating that “this is a great chance for the town to align its housing policy with its affordability goals.”
“Too many regulations and code requirements make housing unaffordable, and the town should regulate safety and design, not lifestyle and square footage. Smaller homes benefit first time home buyers, seniors, local workers, young families, property owners, and the town itself… this is about allowing legal code compliant homes at a size people can actually afford. Yucca Valley wants attainable housing; it has to allow attainable housing to be built. There’s too many regulations and code compliant restrictions that make building a house too expensive before you’ve even broken ground,” said Rauschenberg.
With 25-years of experience to his name, Rauschenberg reminded the Commission that “County and State Code does not regulate square footage,” adding that California Building Code, when building a single-family structure, must have a bathroom, kitchen, heating, and A/C but “nowhere do they design the structure for you.”
Rauschenberg’s comments ignited talk among the Commission to reconsider the minimum, with each giving their own examples of the growing lack of affordable options in Yucca Valley for homebuyers. Planning Commissioner Clint Stoker mentioned that while he was personally able to buy a home here right out of high school, “those days are gone.”
The Commission invited Rauschenberg back to the mic, asking him further questions as he went from commenter to consultant. Rauschenberg also reminded the Commission another positive aspect of smaller square footage homes is that the issue with relocating Joshua Trees will be easier to deal with, giving more options to work around the area’s federally protected namesake.
After a thorough reconsideration, the Yucca Valley Planning Commission voted unanimously to focus on alternative square footage recommendations by next meeting on June 9.
