Desert Local News - Index

Desert Local News - dlnews - Index

Planning
Commission
Heats Up Over
Design Standards
DLNews Editor landscaping. “Even though the construction
At the center of a debate at Tuesday’s on the inside is stopped (due to the downturn
Planning Commission meeting was this in the housing market), we have protections
question: At what stage of a development to make sure this is not an eyesore for our
should a developer be required to construct city.”
on-site and off-site improvements on a hous-
On the Desert Hot Springs project, rather
ing project.
than deny the project extension being re-
On-site and off-site improvements are quested by the developer, the planning com-
such things as sidewalks and landscaping mission postponed a decision for 30 days
around the outside of a housing development to see if the developer was willing to offer
and roadway improvements such as medians changes that would bring the project in line
and traffic signals.
with common development standards.
On a project approved by the planning
At Tuesday’s planning commission meet-
commission two years ago, a developer was ing, the developer did just that and brought
allowed to delay on-site and off-site im- forth a revised plan that incorporated several
provements until after the 125th house was changes.
occupied. That conceivably meant that 125
The meeting was not without some con-
families would be living in the development troversy, however. Because the planning
before sidewalks and other common ameni- commission did not have the authority to
ties were installed.
request changes to a previously agreed upon
That project came before the planning track map, King wanted to emphasis that
commission for renewal last month. The the changes the developer was making were
project had not yet been started and the de- voluntary. Some felt the exchange between
veloper needed to renew his application. the developer and King went too far and also
At that meeting, newly appointed planning criticized King for getting into too much de-
commissioner Gabriel King expressed contail about design standards for the homes.
cerns about the schedule for the on-site and
At the end of discussion and just prior
off-site improvements.
to the vote, Chairman John Geradi took dis-
King said that what was previously apagreement with King saying, “These develproved
represented relaxed standards that opers have been in this business a long time
other valley cities would never accept.
and I am sure they know what they are doing.
“Take a look at the Lenar project on Gene We have a professional staff that also knows
Autry Trail in Palm Springs,” said King. “If their jobs.”
Palm Springs had used the standards in use
And in a highly irregular move, city
in Desert Hot Springs, residents of their city councilman Al Schmidt took to the podium
would be looking across half developed land. as a public speaker to chastise King saying,
Instead, the city of Palm Springs insisted the “I heard you use the word “I” over and over
perimeter wall and landscaping be installed and you have to realize this is about more
first.”
than just you.”
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet
Schmidt was chairman of the planning
pointed to exactly those safeguards as a posi- commission at the time the relaxed design
tive for his city when he addressed over 200 standards were approved on the project.
people at a recent Palm Springs state of the
Following those comments, a vote of the
city address.
planning commission was made. The changes
“We have bonds and other safeguards in volunteered by the developer were accepted
place at Lenar,” said Pougnet speaking of
the Lenar project and its perimeter wall and
and the project was approved.
Gets you back where you belong
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