City schedules more community meetings on zoning overhaul, stresses nothing approved yet

Palm Springs residents will have two additional opportunities this month to provide input on the city’s first comprehensive zoning code overhaul since 1988, as officials work to address a housing shortage that has left many essential workers unable to afford living in the city.

The city will hold an in-person open house on Jan. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 North Avenida Caballeros, followed by a virtual meeting on Feb. 4 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The city held multiple public meetings last year as plans got underway for the first comprehensive update to the code in over 40 years.

“Residents are invited to share their ideas on how to grow housing and jobs and what Palm Springs should look like in the future,” said Christopher Hadwin, director of Planning Services. “Everyone is welcome and we want to hear from you.”

The state of California requires Palm Springs to add 2,600 new housing units by 2029. So far, only 848 units have been built. The city risks losing state funding that supports roads, sewers, affordable housing, the library, the swim center, and the navigation center if it fails to meet the mandate.

Draft zoning proposals include streamlining single-family zoning districts from five to two, allowing up to five stories along commercial corridors like Tahquitz Canyon and South Palm Canyon, increasing maximum heights downtown to seven stories, and reducing parking requirements to encourage affordable housing development.

City officials emphasized that zoning materials and maps released to date are preliminary and have not been reviewed or approved by the Planning Commission or City Council.

The zoning code update addresses a workforce housing crisis that has forced many essential workers, including restaurant servers, nurses, teachers, hotel staff, artists, and entrepreneurs, to commute long distances from other towns because they cannot afford to live in Palm Springs.

The proposed full draft of the zoning code will be unveiled this Spring with opportunities for public feedback at community meetings and formal public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council before final adoption. Public comments on current draft materials are scheduled to remain open through Sept. 21.

To learn more, visit engagepalmsprings.com/zoneps or contact the Planning Department at ZonePS@palmspringsCA.gov.

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