The city may not have the ultimate say in what becomes of the dormant former Tommy Jacobs Bel Air Greens golf course, despite the wishes of neighbors and a local environmental group hoping to stave off development of the property.
Driving the news: During an initial review of a plan to convert the 35-acre former golf course off El Cielo Road to land for housing Wednesday evening, the Palm Springs Planning Commission heard from city staff that the ultimate decision may be made by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
- A city attorney who advises the Commission said that since the land is owned by members of the tribe, should the city ultimately reject the plan an appeal could be decided by the Tribal Council. City staff could not remember that happening before.
Why that matters: One of the owners of the property who spoke Wednesday during a public comment period reiterated statements he made in May that the tribal members want housing on the property and not open space, as pushed for by Oswit Land Trust and others.
- “The bottom line is that’s our land,” said John Andreas. “That belongs to us, the natives. …We’re going to do with it what we see fit. And what we’re going to do is develop it. We’re not going to keep it open space.”
Next steps: Wednesday’s Commission review came in the form of a study session. Ultimately, a formal application will need to be submitted to convert the land from open space — as designated in the city’s General Plan — to land that can be subdivided into lots for housing.
- The land is currently being leased to a partnership and has not been used as a golf course for the better part of the past decade, leading to neighbors labeling it as an eyesore.
- The partnership hopes to gain approval for a zoning change and then sell the subdivided land to housing developers.
At issue: During review of an initial site map for the would-be subdivision, most members of the Planning Commission balked at what they saw. The plans call for far less than 50% of the land to be set aside for open space, as required by the city’s golf course conversion ordinance.
- “I’m perplexed that the applicant made no attempt to comply with that requirement,” — Commission Chair Kathy Weremiuk
Bottom line: Sensing that no matter what the city may decide the tribal leaders will ultimately side with the tribal owners, at least one commissioner sought possible compromise.
- “I think that with some creative design that a good residential product that has a small footprint … would work for most parties.” — Planning Commissioner Lauri Aylaian
