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Planners Say No To Breuers

February 12, 2004

By Kurt Schauppner
The Desert Trail

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA -- Janet Breuer, owner of Thomas Towing, has little time left if she wants to appeal a planning commission decision which, in effect, leaves her business operating illegally at its present location.

The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission last week denied an application for a conditional use permit for the business, which seeks to offer towing and truck parking services, sell auto parts and accessories, and install mufflers and hitches at a site in the 73600 block of Homestead Drive.

The property, located across Homestead Drive from Historic Plaza, is owned by Geraldine Hagman of Apple Valley.

According to Community Development Director Jay Corbin, Breuer is given ten days from the date of the planning commission's Feb. 3 decision to appeal. Once the commission's decision goes into effect, he said, Thomas Towing will be left operating in violation of city code.

Corbin said planning commissioners denied the application for a conditional use permit because of nonconformance with the city's municipal code, development code, general plan and standards of development.

The planning commission decision came after several months of discussion between city officials and Breuer.

According to a staff report provided for planning commissioners, Breuer applied for a conditional use permit for the Homestead Drive location but did not include a site plan. On Aug. 22 the city informed Breuer by letter that her application was incomplete.

On about Sept. 1, the report states, Thomas Towing began operating at the Homestead Drive address.

Breuer and staff members met at city hall on Oct. 7 to discuss the application. Staff members left the meeting thinking Breuer would submit a complete application by Oct. 10. On Oct. 16 Corbin sent Breuer a letter indicating that he had yet to receive a site plan from her.

"City staff is doing everything possible to meet with you, answer your questions and provide any assistance you need in securing the required approval," Corbin wrote in his letter.

"In addition, the City Manager has offered to defer the offsite improvements as a means of expediting your approval."

The report states that Breuer submitted a site plan on Nov. 20 but was told that it did not conform to city standards.

In a letter dated Nov. 25, Corbin outlined what he felt the site plan was lacking, including curb, gutter, sidewalk and match-up pavement along Homestead Drive, paved customer and truck parking areas and methods, dimensions and locations of screens for outdoor work areas, truck parking areas and outdoor storage areas.