—Invisible Values: Architecture And Community

:::::This is a transcript of what I am sharing in front of the County Planning Commission meeting on 03 February, 2022. The primary agenda item I am interested in surrounds the rules for short term rentals in our community:::::

I am here to discuss my community of Joshua Tree, California located in a small patch of desert within rural Unincorporated San Bernardino County.

Last year a project I designed was built in Joshua Tree. Project 17 is a home set in the boulders that sits proudly upon a granite bluff. The tallest portion of Project 17 is the Tower. The Tower is an art studio used by my Patron who makes quilts.

There is a phrase I learned while being educated in architecture. The phrase is Axis Mundi. It translates to: the connection from the earth to a higher purpose. This phrase states that the tallest building in a community represents the community's highest ideals. For the patch of land owned by my Patron, it's the Tower– her art studio.

• In my small community of Joshua Tree, the Axis Mundi or the tallest building is Noble Hall which is located at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. In this space non-denominational meditation retreats have been taking place for over 80 years.
• In Redlands the tallest building is the Government Building along State Street, perhaps speaking to a strong seat of Government and thus embodying this local community's primary focus.
• In Big Bear the Axis Mundi or tallest building is the Holiday Inn at Big Bear Lake. As many of us know Big Bear is a community known for its hospitality and tourism.
• If we look to Loma Linda we find that the tallest building is the Loma Linda University Hospital, speaking of this community's dedication to health care and to higher education.

As you can see, the tallest building or the Axis Mundi differs from community to community in San Bernardino County and represents with reliable accuracy the unique microcosm of activity that is composed of residents who share similar values.

For hundreds-of-thousands-of-years-of-civilization this principle has been used to understand the way communities form and for our County it is no different.

Joshua Tree's landscape, with it's magnetic beauty draws people from many cities. However, every gas station stop, every farmer's market visit, every cafe' eaten at and every residence visited constitutes an interaction with a member of our Community of Joshua Tree.

It is more than just our regional landscape that shapes our community and our prosperity. It is our people and thriving local businesses.

In order to maintain the integrity of these closely held values within our community, values that have created an inarguable draw for over-night visitors and a large revenue-stream for our County, I request that CHAPTER 84.28: SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTALS contain a subsection specific for regulations in Joshua Tree, zip code 92252.

This will ensure that not only our geographical region is represented in regulations for Short Term Rentals, but that our community values which have undeniably shaped our prosperity are not thrown to the wayside.

In conclusion, I would like to thank each of the San Bernardino County Planning Commissioners for listening.

—david

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