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Taft planning commission continues decision on downtown miniature golf permit and parking variance to Dec. 3
Summary
The Taft Planning Commission continued a conditional use permit for an 18‑hole miniature golf course at 419–421 Kern Street to Dec. 3, 2025, after commissioners raised concerns about a proposed reduction from 18 required parking spaces to four and an initial roll-call showed the motion lacked a legal majority.
The Taft Planning Commission on Nov. 25 continued a public hearing on a conditional use permit for an 18‑hole miniature golf course at 419–421 Kern Street to a date certain, Dec. 3, 2025.
Planning Director presented CUP 2024‑07 and variance application 2025‑03 for the downtown transition mixed‑use zone, saying the site is vacant and located between 4th and 5th streets. Staff described required setbacks and other development standards and said the downtown specific plan requires one parking space per miniature golf hole — 18 spaces for the proposed 18‑hole course — while the applicant proposed only four spaces (three compact and one ADA space). Staff recommended approval of the CUP with conditions and denied the variance application, and stated the project qualified for a CEQA Class 32 infill exemption.
Commissioners questioned several operational and code issues, including fencing, surfacing and ADA‑compliant restroom facilities. The applicant, Bernard Herman, told the commission he had coordinated with adjacent property owners and tenants, said he would install a solid cedar privacy fence along the residential side, and that existing trees on the site would be preserved and supplemented.
A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution to approve CUP 2024‑07 with conditions and deny variance 2025‑03. Roll‑call votes were recorded in the meeting: two affirmative, one abstention and one negative — a tally staff said did not meet the required majority of the quorum. The commission then voted to continue the item to Dec. 3, 2025, to allow newly seated Commissioner Don Black time to review materials and to let the applicant or staff provide any additional information.
The continuation preserves staff’s recommended conditions requiring paved parking and ADA access, and directs staff to return the item to the commission on the specified date. The public hearing will reopen at the December meeting to allow further comment and any supplemental materials.
