I have studied Twentynine Palms, as well as some
other cities that I have heard people mention in the past, and I
believe the first thing that we need to do is define what direction
that we want to take our city. My vision for Twentynine Palms and the
direction that I would lead us is to become a retirement and tourist
community.My vision is one that embraces growth, while respecting our
desert serenity.
We all cherish the relaxed lifestyle and the simple beauty of our desert, so it is important that the direction we choose today will stay true for what we want tomorrow.
We also need to keep in mind that we have topographical limitations that will not allow us to become like the metropolitan cities that most people don’t desire. For example, we simply do not have the areas to put 127 golf courses like the lower Coachella Valley, nor do we have a port/rail system that would make our city ideal for shipping or manufacturing. I like the idea of having clean industry that will also promote tourism.
So here is my plan:
General Plan- I would like to add areas that are specific to accomplish certain things. First of all, we need more commercial. I would not mind having a chain restaurant, such as Outback, or a new local restaurant opened. The problem now is that we don’t have enough commercial to truly encompass new restaurants, shopping centers, or medical offices, etc. We need to add more commercial along Hwy 62. From my research most of the brand name retail shops want to be on that main highway.
Next, I would like to see an area that is zoned specifically for horse property. There are a growing number of folks who would like to have a place that they can ride and not have to worry about a subdivision being put in their backyards. This will not affect those who currently have horses in other parts of town.
Finally, the big ticket item… Do I want to see a new golf course/resort hotel and spa added to the general plan? The short answer is yes. I think a golf course, resort hotel and spa are needed. The current course caters to a certain clientele, while a new course would be focused around homeowners and tourists.The long answer is that I would be open to adding the zoning for this type of project IF we have the water, IF they can appropriately mitigate any environmental concerns, and IF the developer would be willing to make some concessions for the housing. Let me make myself understood, this is not a carte blanche to open the door for the next seven developers who come in and want to put up a golf course. This is a systematic review of what works and adds to the amenities of a developing community; especially one who hopes to attract tourists and retirees. I believe that the city has already conducted a study on what would be beneficial to our community.
I hope that my fellow candidates will take a clear position on this issue, as it is important for the community to know where you stand.
Business/Economics- I would like to see the city go after some smaller chain retail stores. How about a Payless, a Barnes & Nobles, or a shop that would sell back packing equipment and JTNP paraphernalia? Population wise we are quite a ways from having a Target brought to town, so we need to establish what works and grow from there.
We need to support our local businesses by making them aware of government grants for store improvement and grants to help people open new business as well. Also, I am a firm believer in advertising our city. More tourists mean more dollars for local business owners.
As a city we should be more aggressive in getting our name out there. It is my position that we need to bring jobs to the area and not just houses. It is also, worth mentioning that the Sky’s the Limit project will be a key asset for the tourism that we are hoping to attract. We need to foster more projects like this one that says, “Come visit us.”
City Hall-
Advertise Twentynine Palms. I have seen other cities take the lead to
promote events and new projects in their area and it has been very
successful for them. Do we advertise in AARP magazine? How about the VA
website? What about tourist magazines or tour company websites? These
are all things that can be done in order to promote our city as a
destination location. Further, we could use an intern in the planning
department. It would give one of our college students an opportunity to
earn credit and participate in the city that they live in. The best
part is that it doesn’t cost the City a dime and they get the
much
needed help during this busy period of growth.
In conclusion, I
know that some of you will take me to task regarding my plan and others
will argue for me to be more aggressive. This in no way covers
everything, however; I consider it to be a prelude to a more
comprehensive plan that will be expanded on as new ideas or objectives
arise. I believe that it is unrealistic for any candidate to think that
they have 100% of the answers, as new challenges will present
themselves all the time. We are a developing community and as we look
around, we can no longer avoid that fact. This is the time to focus on
our future. Twentynine Palms can be an all inclusive city that
continues to maintain its relaxed lifestyle and still make room to
allow for new amenities.
Sherrie Gibson
“Moving Twentynine Palms Forward”