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Planning commission declares 7291 Woodward Avenue a public nuisance, authorizes abatement
Summary
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission voted to adopt staff recommendations declaring the property at 7291 Woodward Avenue a public nuisance and dangerous building and authorized city abatement steps, after staff outlined a history of fire damage, debris and repeated code notices and citations.
The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission voted to adopt staff recommendations to declare the property at 7291 Woodward Avenue a public nuisance and dangerous building and to allow city abatement measures, including possible cleanup and a lien on the property.
Staff told the commission the city received repeated complaints about the property beginning in December 2023, including evidence of a fire and ongoing debris. The city issued a warning notice to the property on Dec. 7, 2023; subsequent citations followed on Feb. 20, 2024, June 21, 2024, and a notice to abate in April 2024. A notice of pendency was recorded April 30, 2024, with a signed return received May 14, 2024. “He has indicated to us that he does not have the funds to affect the cleanup on this property, and if we have to do it ourselves and put a lien on the property, he understands that,” a staff member said.
Commissioners said they inspected or drove by the site and described it as dilapidated and unsafe. After a motion to adopt the staff recommendation and a second, Vice Chair Garcia, Commissioner Christian and Chair Kerr voted in favor; the motion passed 3-0. The property owner has been contacted by staff and told the city he lacks funds to perform required cleanup.
Why it matters: the declaration gives the city authority to abate hazards that threaten public health or safety and to recover costs via liens when property owners fail to remediate. Staff presented the abatement recommendation as the next enforcement step after multiple warnings, citations and a notice of pendency.
What the record shows: staff documented multiple enforcement actions over more than a year, including a fire, recurring trash and debris, a vehicle abatement, and repeated citations. The owner told staff he could not pay for cleanup; staff recommended abatement and possible lien placement to recover costs.
What happened next: the commission adopted staff’s recommendation and authorized the abatement process. The city’s next steps will be to schedule abatement action under the adopted finding and, if performed by the city, record a lien against the property to recover costs.
Votes at the meeting on this item were recorded as a 3-0 approval. Commissioners absent from the meeting were noted in roll call.
Ending: The commission’s action authorizes staff to proceed with enforcement steps already outlined in the presentation; staff will return or report as required by city enforcement procedures.
