The Yucca room was packed last night, and community input was welcomed on the issues covered.
The first permit was a Home Occupation Permit for a meditation and therapeutic retreat at a single-family residential home at 7379 Chippewa Trail, a short-term vacation rental. There are currently no regulations preventing a second commercial business. Still, Staff requested the Planning Commission discuss whether having multiple commercial permits or licenses at a single-family residential property is consistent with town regulations. The Commissioners reviewed and approved the permit and suggested STR owners will be allowed to have multiple permits as long as they abide by the rules set up by the Code.
After a lengthy discussion, the Commissioners denied an appeal application to keep a pole sign at the northwest corner of 56809 Twentynine Palms Highway. There were issues regarding whether the sign had been changed after damage and a change of business ownership. The current Code prohibits pole signs in Old Town, where this business is located. Commissioner Mathew Thomas questioned the sign rules in this instance. Vice Chair Gerard Noonan had an issue with the sign not being permitted. The Owner said he had photos to prove the sign was still the same. Chair Clint Stoker told the sign company and applicant they should have checked with code enforcement before they made changes.
The Commissioners had three options
- To take Staff recommendation and turn down the appeal
- Send this back to Staff for more information on whether the sign had been altered.
- To rewrite the Code
The Commissioner denied the appeal based on section C4, which states ownership changed and requires a new permit.
Next, the Commissioners unanimously approved the Wine and Rock Shop permit for a 385-square-foot wine-tasting bar, a new 514 outdoor seating area, a six-foot tall block wall, and sixteen (16) stall parking spaces on an adjacent parcel.
The Commissioners then reviewed an exterior color change permit for the Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine at 57246 Twentynine Palms Highway. The proposed color changes are a roof made of bright red materials and a yellow door next to red brick. The Code discourages bright colors. The Commissioners approved the red roof and asked that the yellow be toned down.
The following discussion was on updating the Code for Branding Mascots and statues. Staff had examined 68 city regulations and found very little they could draw from. The ensuing discussion was long and complicated, diving into issues such as how you regulate quality, where the mascots should be placed on the property, how many, and what determines appropriate standards. Other important considerations were whether mascots and statues should be separated in the Code from signage.
The Black Bear Dinner statues were denied because there is already a monument sign on the property. Town staff recommended a public meeting, and suggestions referred to the September 29 meeting.
One question that surfaced during the discussion was if it’s not a sign, can the Town regulate the content? Stueckle answered, “There is no case law or statute on the books.” Consideration for changing the current Code was to separate mascots and statues from signage and determine how many are allowed, size, colors, location, and what is appropriate for the Town’s image. Additionally, the Commissioners considered the number of freestanding signs, square footage, and public safety.
The last issue was whether the Town would approve and permit Commercial events like weddings in Single Family Residential Zones. There was much discussion about low-impact events, such as the one approved earlier in the evening.
The Commissioners considered how many special events would be allowed in a year; property size would determine the regulations, how close the property was to neighbors, whether food service was regulated, and whether ambulances and fire vehicles could get to the venue. The Commissioners also considered whether mandatory security, noise, traffic control, and regulations should exist for anything that impacted the neighborhood. Additional considerations are how late these events can go and whether the rules can be determined by property size and proximity to other houses. Commissioner Alejandro Vasconcelos questioned enforcement and how the Town would oversee and regulate events.
Stueckle said, “Staff now has sufficient direction and will return to the Commissioners for further discussion at the next Planning Commission meeting.”
The Land Development report was tabled due to the late hour of the meeting, and the meeting ended at 10:10.
