Gina’s Guide to the Planning Commission Hearing

Planning on attending the hearing of the Wonder Inn Project before the County Planning Commission this Thursday, March 23?  Want to know how to prepare?  Here’s Gina’s Guide on how to make it easy and make it count.

The Planning Commission Hearing is held in San Bernardino at the Government Center, and you can attend there if you want.  However, you don’t have to go all that way to take part:  a satellite hook-up along with tech support will be made available to us at our Bob Burke Government Center in Joshua Tree:

Bob Burke Government Center
63665 29 Palms Hwy, Joshua Tree / 760-366-2471
(When you turn east into the parking lot off of Whitefeather Rd, head all the way to the last building on the right. There is plenty of parking.)

The hearing begins at 9 a.m. but we recommend you get there 15 minutes early so you have time to fill out your comment request slips and read over the agenda and staff report that will be available to you.

What to bring?

  • Your Comment – If you will be making a public comment, it’s recommended you have your comments typed or written out and be sure your substantial points can be expressed within the 3-minute time period you are allotted – they will cut you off at 3 minutes.
  • Pen or pencil.
  • A reusable water bottle and perhaps a granola bar or small snack.

Other things to note:

  • Public restrooms are available.
  • If you are unable to attend the hearing in person it will be available via livestream (we will update with the link when it becomes available).  Also, it will be recorded and available for viewing a couple of hours after the hearing ends.
  • Also, if you’re not there you can still send in a comment via the Planning Commission webpage during the hearing. You will need the agenda # and your comment is limited to 250 words, so you may want to have that prepped beforehand.  Important:  It must be submitted prior to the end of the hearing. 
  • The main Planning Commission webpage is here.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to show up, and to speak from the heart. If you want ideas on what to say or ways to say it, you’ll find both information and inspiration here.  

Special request:  We need some folks who are willing to use their comment time to read text prepared by our Stop Wonder Inn team to specifically address certain issues.  If you’d like to help in this way, please contact us asap. This will ensure all the critical issues are covered and the Commissioners are fully informed on what’s at stake.  And thanks to everyone who’s volunteered so far!