Taft planning commission continues miniature‑golf conditional use permit to Dec. 3

The Taft Planning Commission on Nov. 25 continued action on a conditional use permit (CUP 2024‑07) for an 18‑hole miniature golf course at 419 and 421 Kern Street to a date certain of Dec. 3, 2025, after the commission did not reach a majority on a motion to approve the CUP and deny the related parking variance.

Staff said the project is in the downtown transition mixed‑use zone and that staff can make the CUP findings but recommended denial of Variance 2025‑03, which sought to reduce required parking from the downtown plan standard of one space per hole (18 spaces) to the four spaces proposed on site. The planning director told commissioners that the Taft Municipal Code allows a “parking adjustment” to use off‑site parking within 400 feet and pointed out two city owned lots about 150 feet from the site as potential shared parking.

The project applicant, Bernard Herrmann, told commissioners he has discussed parking and fencing with neighboring property owners and tenants and said he would install a solid cedar privacy fence along the residential side. The planning director noted Condition 1 requires permanent, ADA‑compliant on‑site restroom facilities and that several unpaved areas shown on the site plan were conditioned to be paved to meet ADA and municipal surfacing requirements.

After public testimony and commissioner questions about parking, traffic and proximity to residences, a motion to adopt the staff resolution approving the CUP and denying the variance was made and seconded. The roll call recorded two members voting yes, one no, and one abstention; commissioners concluded the motion did not achieve the required majority of the quorum and directed staff to bring the item back. The commission then voted to continue the matter to the Dec. 3, 2025 meeting to allow Commissioner Don Black time to review the record.

The record shows staff relied on comments from Caltrans (State Route 33), Kern County Fire, West Kern Water District and city public works; staff conditioned the CUP for landscaping consistent with the downtown specific plan, pedestrian lighting, paving for ADA access, a 6‑foot solid masonry screening wall along the southeastern property line, underground utility connections, grading approval, and trash/recycling enclosure details. The variance findings in the staff report state findings 2, 3 and 4 cannot be made, while the parking adjustment findings are presented as support for shared off‑site parking.

The commission did not take final action on the CUP or the variance; instead the item was continued to Dec. 3, 2025 for further review and decision.

Details on the staff report and conditions, and the project’s APNs (031‑090‑05 and 06), are in the project packet and will be part of the Dec. 3 hearing.