City’s Planning Commission Working With B&B Owners to Ease Regulations in Big Bear Lake’s Development Code

During this week’s City of Big Bear Lake Planning Commission meeting, development codes, as they relate to bed and breakfast establishments, were reviewed. Per a directive from City Council, the Planning Commission is addressing regulations that affect these businesses, including sign setback requirements within residential neighborhoods, ancillary uses during the week, and standards for B&Bs’ retail, alcoholic beverage (such as wine) service, and pools and spas. As Jim Miller, the City’s Director of Building and Planning, explains, “What we’re doing is almost like deregulation, because there are so many little things in our development code that make it harder for B&Bs to do business.” Though no action was taken at the Planning Commission meeting of April 1, city staff has been directed to work with commercial lodge owners to get more constructive input; though the Public Hearing portion of this issue is closed, the item will continue at a future Planning Commission meeting. All told, the City of Big Bear Lake is working toward achieving an updated development code more in sync with, say, ABC and Health Department codes, to make it easier for B&Bs and commercial lodges within residential zones to do business.