It was a late night for the Yucca Valley Planning Commission as they met to hear from the public and begin amending the short-term vacation rental ordinance in the town’s Development Code. After some regular business that involved native plant permits, the trimming of three Western Joshua Trees, and public hearings on Emergency Transitional Housing and other Development Code changes, the commission then spent hours talking short-term vacation rentals. First, the commission and the public heard recommendations from town staff on the proposed changes based on research of what other cities and towns have done. During the nearly two hours of public comment, the commission heard from realtors, STVR owners, concerned residents, distant owners, and property managers who commented on almost every proposed change. Everything from occupancy maximums to noise monitoring was discussed leaving the commission with a lot to consider. With more from the meeting, here’s reporter Ernest Figueroa…
Proposed changes to the code included mandatory noise monitoring software, increased fines, changes in the application process that require property owners to apply for permits in person, changes to occupancy and vehicle capacities that lower the number of guests allowed, and remove the adjustment for daytime guests, restrictions on STVRs within 300 feet of each other, and requirements for owners to respond to issues within 15 minutes via electronic communication and 30 minutes in-person if needed. Based on public comment, the commission considered harsher repercussions for the “bad players” to encourage compliance, the difference between owner-occupied and stand-alone properties, and how to maintain the neighborhood character where STVRs seem to be clustered.
Up for debate was also STVR density, enforcement strategies, the definition of a “guest”, and if guests could be fined and not owners. The conflicting input to the commission from the public led a lengthy discussion on the proposed changes that left the commission to consider how to potentially grandfather in some existing permits and how the moratorium affects owners who are in the trenches of the escrow and permitting process.
In the end, the commission reassured the public that their voices are being heard and that the issues are multi-faceted. The commission seemed to agree that some definitions need to be redefined, illegal operations need to take the enforcement priority and two-night stay minimums are questionable as far as practicality. The commission also agreed that removing the STVR regulations from the development code and making it more administrative would be appropriate since the STVR permit functions more as a business permit and not a land-use issue. With all the input, the town staff will revise the proposed changes to reflect the commission’s suggestions and pass the proposal to the Yucca Valley Town Council.
