Planning commission approves conditional use permit for 499-square-foot recycling collection inside Stater Brothers center

The City of Twentynine Palms Planning Commission on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for a recycling collection business occupying about 499.6 square feet within the Stater Brothers shopping center.

Planning staff told the commission the use was originally reviewed as an administrative permit but that the commission had referred it for a conditional use permit on Dec. 17. Staff recommended the commission find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approve the permit as presented. Commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution with an amendment to conditions of approval.

Public commenters raised concerns about the proposed facility’s size and daily operations. One resident said the location is rural and questioned whether state convenience-zone rules apply: “We’re not urban. We’re rural,” the resident told commissioners. A member of the public also said photos in the staff packet show larger indoor operations and argued the proposed 499 square feet would be insufficient for multi‑day storage.

The applicant — who identified themselves as operating multiple indoor collection centers — told the commission the business would not store multi‑day accumulation on site, would not use a baler at the proposed location and relies on daily truck pickups to remove material. “We don’t have a baler there. We have a truck that picks up every single day,” the applicant said, and added that pest control, buckets and sinks are used at indoor locations to reduce spill and pest risk.

In response to public concerns, commissioners and staff agreed to add or clarify conditions requiring prompt removal of recycled materials, and staff noted language in the permit already requires materials be removed. Staff also agreed the record could be amended to include a pick‑up frequency condition and to reference pest‑control obligations in the lease. Staff warned that violations of permit conditions, including keeping excessive materials on site, could lead to citations or potential revocation of the permit.

The permit was approved with an adopted resolution and the commission noted the conditional use permit term and enforcement provisions. Planning staff also told the commission that an appeal of the decision may be filed with the City of Twentynine Palms and that appeal filings must be submitted within 10 days and are subject to an appeal fee.

Vote at a glance: motion to find the project exempt from CEQA and to adopt the resolution approving the conditional use permit as amended — approved 4-0.