Kern County planning commission backs zone change on Jewettah Avenue, recommends county board approval

The Kern County Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended that the Kern County Board of Supervisors approve a zone change for a 9.04-acre parcel on the east side of Jewettah Avenue, about 240 feet south of the Hageman Road intersection, changing the northern portion to R2 (medium-density residential) and retaining estate quarter-acre zoning on the southern portion.

The recommendation matters because it would allow duplex and other medium-density housing types on the northern portion if and when the owner seeks permits, while the southern portion would remain limited to quarter-acre single-family lots. Commissioners voted 3–0 with one member absent and one member not voting to forward staff’s recommendation; an earlier motion to require a Planned Development overlay (R2-PD) for the R2 portion failed for lack of a second.

County planning staff described the proposal as a zone classification change for the 9.04-acre parcel that is currently split-zoned and has two map code designations. Staff said the parcel is vacant and surrounded by a mix of estate, single-family and multifamily development; the application was filed by Airstar Properties LLC and the owner is Aaron Rootin. The staff report noted an earlier Board of Supervisors approval of a related zone change in September 2007 that had a “held in suspense”…