The Yucca Valley Planning Commission faced a difficult decision reviewing site plans for the High Desert Times-proposed new construction at 56695 Twentynine Palms Highway. The owners requested a waiver of the 77,420 in-lieu fees for widening Highway 62. Liz and Steven Lapp have submitted site plans for building an eleven-hundred-square-foot retail store on Highway 62 next to the California Welcome Center.
The new business will sell old and new magazines with space for author readings and potential small community gatherings. Due to increased traffic and wear on Highway 62, the road must be widened for safety – and the cost – calculated by the Town engineers, will be applied to all new construction projects whether the work is done at the time of construction or later. The additional fees prohibited the applicants from moving forward. Commissioner Clint Stoker suggested the catch basin, which brought rainwater into the wash, covered many highway miles and should be amortized by businesses built along the route. That got the fee down 20,000 dollars to 57,420. The next step is for the applicants to appeal to the Town Council.
During the Land Development Update Report, Starbucks West is making progress.
There is a Pre-application for mixed-use office and living space and an application for a small subdivision.
The hotel application for 247 Pods and a common building is still underway. Century Communication has Western Joshua Trees covered frontage on La Contenta that will necessitate an environmental report and slow progress.
STVR permits have 50 open slots, and the Essig Park project starts Monday, June 19.
The irrigation and sod are dependent on 70 degrees or higher. Alternative spots for a temporary dog park are not financially feasible.
Due to an Airbnb mistake – confusing Town permitting with County permittingAirBNB delists local rentals in error – Airbnb kicked several Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms units off the site last week. The upside to the error is the Town is discovering non-permitted vacation rentals.
