Kern County Planning Commission approves two consent items; nominators to pick new vice chair

The Kern County Planning Commission on May 22, 2025 approved two consent items: a conditional use permit for a duplex at 21020 Mission Street in Tehachapi and a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to cancel a Williamson Act contract on a parcel near Tejon Highway. The commission also said it will convene a nominating committee to select a new vice chair and announced the June 26 meeting is canceled; the next meeting is scheduled for July 10.

Planning staff read two consent items and said applicants had been notified of conditions and raised no objections. Mister Murphy, planning staff, summarized the items, saying, "The applicant has been informed of any special conditions and has no objection." The commission approved the consent agenda by voice vote: four ayes, one absent.

The first consent item, CEP 11, Map 16524, requests a conditional use permit to construct a duplex on an approximately 12,633-square-foot parcel at 21020 Mission Street in the Tehachapi area, with staff recommending approval subject to the conditions and findings in the draft resolution. The second, Williamson Act Contract 2401, Map 125, filed by Jerry and Jean Pledger through Pinnacle Consulting and Engineering, requests cancellation of an agricultural land contract for a parcel on the east side of Tejon Highway approximately 130 feet south of Mountain View Road; staff recommended the commission advise the Board of Supervisors to approve the cancellation effective upon payment of the cancellation fee and subject to written verification from the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department that the applicant is in compliance with the tentative certificate of cancellation's other conditions.

Mister Murphy also advised that case number 1 (CEP 11) is subject to appeal to the Kern County Board of Supervisors. "This filing must be made within 14 days of and including the date of tonight's hearing," he said, and the department provided a filing fee of $562 and a filing location at the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department, 2700 M Street, Suite 100, Bakersfield. Forms are available at the department and on its website.

Separately, the commission's chair (name not stated on the record) said the vice chair who would normally preside in the chair's absence is no longer on the commission and asked that the nominating committee — which the chair said is comprised of the chair and Lauren, the clerk — convene after the meeting to select a new vice chair and announce the appointment early at the next meeting. The commission recorded no public commenters on the items and had no items withdrawn or continued.

The meeting adjourned after the brief agenda; commissioners noted the June 26 meeting was canceled and the next regular meeting will be July 10.