Planning Commission to review 104-unit development proposed for corner of Indian Canyon and Racquet Club

A 104-unit residential project proposed for the vacant southwest corner of North Indian Canyon Drive and East Racquet Club Road will go before the Palm Springs Planning Commission on Oct. 14 for preliminary review.

The project, called The Village @ Racquet Club, is being proposed by GHA Investments, LLC, which intends to develop the 8.23-acre site with 31 detached single-family homes, 53 townhomes, and 20 affordable apartments. The apartments would be designated for moderate- to low-income residents and include 14 studio units and six one-bedroom units.

The company has developed multiple projects in the Coachella Valley, including the Rio Del Sol development in Cathedral City and Aventura Palms in Desert Hot Springs.

The city’s Planning Services Department said in its staff report that the project, as currently designed, does not conform to several aspects of the R-2 zoning standards governing the site. Those include minimum lot size, setbacks, open space, and building separation requirements. Staff also noted that the developer’s proposal to make the project a gated community conflicts with city policy that discourages gated entries and perimeter walls around entire neighborhoods.

Instead, city design policy encourages the use of landscaping, meandering streets, and home placement to provide privacy and a sense of exclusivity. While the Planning Commission has discretion to approve gates, staff said the applicant has not yet provided justification for why controlled access is necessary.

To move forward, the project would require approval of a Planned Development District, which allows flexibility in zoning requirements when certain public benefits are provided. According to the applicant’s justification letter, the requested variances would allow smaller lots, reduced setbacks, and less open space in exchange for providing affordable housing and a mix of housing types. The proposed density of 12.6 units per acre falls within the range allowed by the city’s Medium Density Residential designation.

Developer Mario Gonzales of GHA Companies said the project would create a contemporary neighborhood in keeping with Palm Springs’ architectural style. Design plans show modern-style homes with brick veneer, breeze block, and metal accents, along with shared amenities such as a pool pavilion, barbecue area, and dog park.

At a neighborhood outreach meeting held Sept. 17 at the Riviera Hotel, residents asked about potential traffic impacts, drainage, landscaping, and the proposed access points on Via Olivera and Racquet Club Road. Gonzales told attendees the Via Olivera access would be an emergency and resident exit only, and that pools would be standard for single-family homes but optional for townhomes. Some residents expressed concern about plans to narrow Racquet Club Road and add bike lanes.

Planning staff said the proposal would add a range of housing options to the city, including affordable units that help Palm Springs meet its state housing goals, but noted that significant design and zoning issues remain. The commission’s study session will allow members to provide feedback, but no action will be taken at this stage.

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