April 11 Daily Briefing: Pickleball in ‘the pit,’ what’s next for city zoning, Ramon Road update, and more

Happy Thursday, everyone! Earlier this month we told you that the city is conducting a survey about broadband use. That survey (take it here) closes on April 15. We were reminded of the survey when reading news yesterday about “broadband nutrition labels,” which are pretty much what they sound like. The FCC is now requiring that internet providers display labels with the key ingredients of their plans – and they look a lot like the nutrition labels you see at the grocery store. It’s all an effort to help reduce the confusion that internet service providers seem to purposely create about their pricing plans.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan

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LEADING OFF

City’s zoning code getting major overhaul; commissioners detail priorities

The zoning code governing development in Palm Springs is undergoing its most significant revision in years, and Planning Commission members are making sure their priorities are heard.

Zoom in: Though the zoning code is updated periodically, it has not been comprehensively updated in many years. The updated zoning code will reflect the city’s development standards, including building height, density, and parking requirements.

Driving the news: During a study session Wednesday evening, commission members spoke with consultants working on the updated code and shared their priorities.

Up first: Nearly all of the commissioners spoke about the need for more housing and discussed ways to make it easier to build it.

Here’s how: Some suggested ideas include incentivizing developers to build affordable workforce housing through density bonuses and height allowances. Vice Chair Lauri Aylaian also spoke about making it easier for places like former hotels or golf courses to be turned into housing or retail.

• Commissioners also referred back to the city’s recently certified housing element to give consultants more context on the state of the city’s housing supply.

What else: Commissioners were also enthusiastic about encouraging mixed-use districts across the city, which would combine commercial and residential spaces.

In addition: Another priority for commissioners was the broad goal of sustainability, which was reflected in many commissioners’ comments when they expressed a desire for more shade, better pedestrian access and walkability, less parking, and fewer lanes on city streets.

Yes, but: They also acknowledged residents who prized the city’s open landscapes and hillside views, noting that part of the challenge of zoning in the city is balancing the need for housing a growing population with the city’s natural beauty.

Worth noting: Chair Kathy Weremiuk wanted to assure residents in lower income neighborhoods were given special consideration, saying they need more trees, sidewalks, and neighborhood retail that doesn’t necessitate car use.

What they’re saying: Amidst the laundry list of priorities and ideas, Vice Chair Aylaian summarized the need for an updated code, saying, “We need the tools in the code so that our values are expressed publicly… and so that people are required to embrace them.”

Up next: The consultants working on the zoning update will be conducting outreach to the community as a next step, reaching out to neighborhood and professional organizations.

BRIEFLY

🎾 Pickleball courts now occupy former home of ‘Babies’

“The pickle courts are in the Baby Pit” is an actual sentence in an email we received this week. Though mostly incomprehensible to those outside Palm Springs, allow us to translate:

• Pickleball courts now occupy the former location of a series of sculptures and other artwork, including the “Babies,” which were huge 300-pound babies with barcodes instead of faces created by Czech artist David Černý.
  
  
• The babies crawled out of Palm Springs last year for an exhibition in Mexico. Now the courts will be an amenity for the nearby Kimpton Rowan Hotel (and managed by the hotel).
  
  
• Michael Braun of Grit Development explained that the courts, like the hotels’ rooftop amenities, will be accessible at certain times for non-hotel guests.
  
  
• Bottom line: “These courts are an amenity for the Rowan Hotel and are managed by the hotel,” Braun wrote. “The program  will be rolled out over the next few months.”

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

City Council
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs City Hall
According to the agenda, councilmembers will consider several items, including the “Beautiful Shade” parks project and a decision on whether or not to change the name of the Palm Springs Navigation Center.

Dusty Strings
5:30 p.m. | Desert Ensemble Theatre
Get ready for a foot-stomping, soul-stirring good time with hosts Boo Rigney and Mara Sol as they bring the music of the heartlands to the VIP Lounge on select thursdays nights at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. ($10)

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
The weekly street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

“Nice Work if You Can Get It”
7 p.m. | Coachella Valley Repertory
CVRep says this will be the biggest production ever mounted on their stage. A classic Broadway blockbuster filled with actors, singers, dancers, and beloved Gershwin tunes. ($50)

SAVE THE DATE

• Drive the Plaza Theatre into the Future on April 19 at the Prescott Collection Hangar.
  
  
• Free Shredding Event at Palm Springs City Hall on April 20.
  
  
• Coachella Acappella performs at Palm Desert High School on April 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Entertainment Convention on May 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Desert Winds Freedom Band Concert on May 4 at Temple Isaiah.
  
  
• PSUSD Multicultural Festival on May 4 at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.

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AND FINALLY …

If you’ve driven Ramon Road between Palm Springs High School and El Cielo recently, you’ve no doubt noticed it’s a bit of a mess. And while frustrating for motorists who are experiencing backups, it’s all for a good cause.

Driving the news: Two major construction projects are underway in the area. The most significant is the construction of a new storm drain. The second is a Desert Water Agency project replacing aging pipes along frontage roads north of Ramon Road.

Timeline: The Ramon Road storm drain project began in February and is expected to take 10 months, with work moving west to Farrell Drive and north to Tahquitz Canyon Way. The first stage along Ramon should be completed in June, and the second portion on Farrell will run until November.

• The DWA project started on March 11 and was expected to take about a month, with major work already completed.

Impact: The city says one lane of traffic will always be open in each direction, but closures have resulted in significant slowdowns during busy times. DWA has said its project resulted in slight impacts, including reduced access to the Ramon frontage road.

Details: While we don’t often report on road closures other than those caused by storms and wind, you can always check out the city’s list and plan your day accordingly. Go to this city website to do that.