Buildings’ public hearings may be as early as October

Riverside County has responded to several requests for information on the two building projects — one apartments and one a new hotel. Brad and Jacqueline Rechtfertig’s proposed hotel next to La Casita has a Planning Department application number of PPT190033.

Though hearing dates have not been set, 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington’s Chief of Staff Michelle DeArmond said a director’s hearing is anticipated for October. A “staff report is currently being prepared,” she said.

More details on the 12-room, three-story hotel with a caretaker residence and a pool include 15 on-site parking spaces (14 are required); decomposed granite used to preserve the natural esthetic; and the owners’ intend to leave most of the trees intact and only cut what is absolutely needed.

“The hotel is located within the Scenic Highway Commercial (C-P-S) zone, which permits hotels and motels with the submission of a plot plan,” according to the details the county provided.

“The rear of the property is R-3A zone which will have the caretakers residence.

The R-3A zone permits single family dwellings.”

Shane Stewart’s apartments, besides being connected to an 18-unit current apartment complex with a proposed 25-unit addition, is located in an R-3A zone behind the former Tahquitz Inn (the current 18-unit complex) on Highway 243. “R-3A is a residential zone, but it also allows a variety of commercial uses,” according to details. The application number is CUP190065.

A public hearing before the Planning Commission is anticipated for October or November.

“R-3A allows for single family dwelling by right or a ‘bungalow court’ that requires a CUP,” according to the details. “If it requires a CUP, it will go to public hearing and give the residents a chance to provide comments.”

For both projects, written comments may be submitted before the hearing. Emails may be sent to planninghearings@rivco.org (include the project application number or details).

Public comments may be made at the director’s hearing in person or by phone. Hearings are currently being held via Zoom.

Public noticing will go out at least 10 days prior to the hearing,” according to details. If a decision is appealed, the public will be able to comment at the next-level public hearing before the Planning Commission or the board of supervisors.

Visit https://planning.rctlma.org/Public-Hearings for information on how to remotely participate in hearings.

In last week’s story on the building projects, Stewart’s Rustic Rentals Pinewoods Residence were called “new multifamily units” on the plans, giving the impression that they are possibly long-term rentals. But the 25-unit, two-story structures are described differently in the plan’s Scope of Work as “New development of 25 units for short and extended stay for apartment for Rustic Rentals Pinewoods Residences.”

“These are full-time apartment rentals,” said Stewart. He said the county required him to put in that wording to designate them as a motel in case, down the road, another owner wants to turn them into short-term rentals.

When asked for a comment on that statement, county Planner Bret Dawson responded, “We haven’t specifically had a conversation with the applicant about using the apartments for short-term rentals. The project is being proposed as apartments and that is how staff refers to it. However, as with any qualifying residential unit, Ordinance No. 927 regulating short-term rentals may permit the applicant to use the project for short-term rentals.”

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