RECAP: Twentynine Palms Planning Commission, October 1, 2024
Approved! Mojaveland Miniature Golf Course Conditional Use Permit
Approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Mojaveland, which will share a City-owned property with Theatre 29, was greeted with applause from a large audience at this Planning Commission meeting. Our agenda preview is here.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The meeting kicked off with public comments on topics unrelated to agenda items.
Peter Lang and Suzanne Lyons, who live near the proposed solar project west of the Harmony Acres neighborhood, urged Commissioners to maintain the City's ban on utility-scale solar development. They cited adverse impacts on aesthetics, tourism and property values. Lang held up photos he said showed desert tortoises on the site. Lyons argued that AB205, which establishes a new permitting procedure that supersedes local approvals for large renewable energy projects, couldn't be used to approve this project if the project runs afoul of the Endangered Species Act. Both voiced similar complaints at the most recent City Council meeting.
A barber who gave his name simply as "Coriano" pled for help getting City approval for his barber studio, saying "what I'm asking for is help from the community, just if they can point me in the right directions for waivers, reductions or exemptions for this site plan review. Just for a 10 by 10 little unit studio, they're asking for $1,600." He spoke of the impact the City's recent code enforcement action was having on him and his family, that he's worked as a barber in the City for four years and that his studio is located directly behind Jeanine Beauty Supply.
Eric Menendez, with Joshua Tree Gateways Communities Alliance, requested that the Commission consider a future agenda item to discuss the Downtown Specific Plan and economic development.
CONSENT CALENDAR AND COMMISSION COMMENTS
The Commission unanimously approved the Consent Calendar, in this case just the minutes of the previous meeting.
Chair Max Walker announced he'd rescinded his resignation from the Planning Commission, which he'd announced at the last meeting, as he was now no longer planning to relocate to Oregon, given that his father there had passed away.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item 2. CUP24-000002 Mojaveland Miniature Golf Course
Community Development Director Keith Gardner kicked this item off by recommending the Commission approve the Mojaveland CUP, saying that the proposal met all environmental and ADA requirements. City staff evaluated the proposal against the existing environmental review for Pioneer Park, which was approved in 2021 but never built, and just a few minor adjustments were needed. "They're doing a little bit of grading, and they're installing two detention basins and also some ADA pathways and a couple of accessible parking spaces," Gardner explained.
Mojaveland will share parking with Theatre 29, which occupies another part of the same City-owned parcel.
Replying to a question from Commissioner Leslie Paahana, Gardner said the City still plans to pursue construction of Pioneer Park next time a grant opportunity becomes available, but this may be several years away. He said that the uses are compatible and the park plan could be modified accordingly. Walker then inquired about the new animal shelter proposed for the same parcel, and Gardner replied that the parcel had space for all these uses and that "we're purposely designing both so they don't conflict."
Presenting on the proposal were the applicant, Mojaveland founder and director Anna Stump, joined at the podium by nonprofit fiscal sponsor Cheyanne Sauter of AHA Projects. Stump explained how she moved to Twentynine Palms in 2018, drawn by the City's potential for large scale art projects.
Stump recounted Mojaveland's formative years, saying "I sort of foolishly bought a commercial property on Adobe Road, thinking that it was zoned correctly for miniature golf. But I quickly found out that there were a lot of access problems.…I was going to have to underground seven power poles, which was not in the cards!" But success came — before long she realized she "needed to stop doing this because it was getting too popular."
Early last year, using portable golf holes, Stump converted Mojaveland into a popup at the 29 Farmers Market. Then one day she received a call from Keith Gardner, asking "Hey, Anna, would you consider public land?" Thus today's proposal, all the holes of which will be designed by local artists and with nine of its 18 holes ADA accessible.
Stump presented a video about the project, then answered questions from Commissioners about the restrooms and ADA pathways. She explained that the project's initial phase, covering the initial five-year lease, would have temporary restrooms, then upon lease renewal, in phase two, permanent restrooms would be constructed. Gardner opined that Theatre 29's restrooms could eventually be used as well, especially if plans for Pioneer Park went forward.
Walker inquired whether the City engineer had approved the proposal's drainage plan, and Gardner replied he had. Commissioner Alexander Garcia said he appreciated that the proposal included the presence of a tribal monitor for any earthmoving. Stump and Sauter then concluded their presentation.
Public Comments on Mojaveland
Walker said the Commission had received three emails supporting the proposal and no comments opposing it. Five commenters then spoke in favor of the project.
Matthew Case, board member of arts nonprofit Highway Sanctuary in Flamingo Heights, commented "I have been able to see first hand the kind of impact that these nonprofits and these places of gathering for community members can really add to the positivity of the of the community. I highly, I highly suggest that you approve this."
Heather Drake, who said she lived very close to the property, said "There's a lot of art in the city, but there's really not a lot of art that children can actually interact with and touch and play with. So I think that this would be just a really great addition to our art culture and our community."
Gretchen Grunt, who runs the 29 Palms Creative Center near this property, said "I experienced Mojaveland when it was over on Adobe Road, and it just gave me so much pride in our little town that we create these opportunities for people to come and get together and interact and have fun. And the fact that there's education going to be added to it, that's really exciting too. So I hope that it gets approved."
Eric Menendez stated "I think we do need more more public educational spaces and places for families.…I totally support this project and I think Anna is a fantastic community member."
Ben Allanoff, a Joshua Tree artist, commented "I've collaborated with Anna on a number of projects, and I want to say that I think her project and what she's doing is exactly what any city should embrace."
Council Discussion and Vote
Beginning Council discussion, Garcia stated, "I have quite a few friends who went to Mojaveland while it was [at its original location] and said nothing but good things about it.…I'm all in support of anything that's free education, especially for children." Commissioner Jim Krushat chimed in, "I think that it's a good project and I agree with the staff recommendation." Walker said "I agree, this ought to be fun, it'll be a neat place to take the kids."
The Council then voted unanimously to approve the CUP for this project, at which attendees broke out in applause.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR UPDATES
Gardner reported that on the heels of the September 17 study session on Entertainment Permits, he'd be bringing something "quite administrative" back to the Commission for consideration, after he completes "further community meetings, and meet the business community, and the artist community."
The next Planning Commission meeting is October 15. Note that the October 8 City Council meeting is canceled.
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I'm very thankful I live in the county where nature still has a much freer hand.
I’m not getting this. Miniature golf is OK, but solar is bad? I’d this the 1950s? No sympathy for the NIMBY folks. Climate change is a crisis.