Planning commission approves 30‑unit Amboy Resort; applicant granted edits to several conditions

The Twentynine Palms Planning Commission voted 5‑0 to adopt a negative declaration and approve a conditional use permit for the Amboy Resort, a proposed 30‑unit resort on Amboy Road that would place development on the southern 5 acres of a 10‑acre parcel.

The project calls for three‑D printed cabins of about 200 square feet each, several small community buildings (applicants cited dimensions including 1,900, 920 and 3,500 square feet for different structures), concrete walk and golf‑cart paths and parking located along the southern edge of the site. The applicants told the commission they will leave the northern five acres undisturbed.

The approval follows a staff presentation recommending the negative declaration and CUP and a period of public comment. Jean Eldman, representing the applicant team, described the proposal as an "eco resort" that will rely on recycled and reclaimed materials, solar power and water‑saving measures. "This is gonna be the first resort built with recycled materials," Eldman said, adding the development would use recycled plastic and fiberglass in the 3‑D printed units and use gray water for landscaping.

Applicant representative Steve Enix requested changes to several conditions of approval. On wastewater, Enix said the engineered flow calculation shows roughly 1,800 gallons per day and argued the project would fall below a 5,000‑gallons‑per‑day threshold that triggers mandatory submittals to the Regional Water Quality Control Board; he said the team will seek an exemption and asked the commission to allow condition language that acknowledges seeking that exemption rather than requiring upfront board submittals. "We're suggesting that we obtain an exemption for submittals," Enix said.

Enix also asked for a narrower trigger for a required phase‑2 archaeological study, proposing that further archaeological work be required only if construction intrudes into two identified sensitive sites. On paving, the applicant proposed limiting concrete to areas required for emergency vehicle access and ADA parking and using gravel with concrete border curbs elsewhere; staff and the commission discussed maintaining ADA compliance for paths and parking.

Commissioners pressed the applicants on cultural‑resource protection and monitoring. Staff confirmed archaeological monitors representing tribes would be required during construction and that the project as conditioned must avoid identified sensitive areas; further testing would still be required if monitoring finds previously unrecorded resources. On wastewater, staff said the city will verify exemption status at permit time and will require appropriate approvals if the project is found not to be exempt.

Support and opposition were limited. Local resident Dane Austin spoke in favor of the project, arguing it supports tourism and local revenue. Nearby resident Anna Stumpf said she supported the land use but asked whether the project would fence the dunes to prevent ATVs from accessing the property and requested assurance the resort would not encourage off‑road recreation onto neighboring private parcels.

Commissioner Walker moved to adopt the negative declaration and approve the CUP "as proposed" with the applicant's edits; the motion passed unanimously. The approved resolution adopts the negative declaration and approves the conditional use permit with the edits discussed to the listed conditions (references discussed in the hearing included P6, P9 and E19 regarding parking/paving, archaeological triggers and Water Board language).

Next steps: staff will memorialize the condition language changes in writing and the applicants must proceed with the standard permitting process (including confirming Water Quality Control Board exemption status at permit submittal if applicable).