Council unanimously votes to support large warehouse project north of Interstate 10

The Palm Springs City Council voted unanimously Thursday evening to deny an appeal and approve the construction of a 739,360-square-foot warehouse at North Indian Canyon Drive and 19th Avenue, following extensive public debate over environmental impacts and economic benefits.

The council’s decision upholds the Planning Commission’s December 2024 approval of the facility, which will include 12,000 square feet of office space, 420 vehicle parking spaces, and 306 truck/trailer parking spaces. The developer said the project could create more than 500 union construction jobs and 800 to 1,000 permanent positions.

The 4-0 vote — with Councilmember Grace Garner out due to illness — came after hours of debate and more than two dozen public comments both for and against the development proposed for a 38-acre parcel near the border with Desert Hot Springs, which has already seen similar warehouses constructed nearby.

It was noted that the warehouse complies with 2022 zoning changes approved by elected officials that allow for large-scale industrial facilities in specific areas north of Interstate 10.

Environmental advocates who spoke during a public hearing raised concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from an estimated 102,000 annual truck trips. However, developers highlighted agreements with the Sierra Club requiring rooftop solar panels and commitments to convert to zero-emission vehicles when feasible.

In response, councilmembers requested an air quality analysis in five years to assess potential impacts and the need for corrective action.

“I do think that there should be some type of active awareness that this is something that we should look into now that this is going to be a new industry,” said Mayor Pro Tem Naomi Soto.

Other critics, including former planning commissioner Peter Moruzzi — who brought the appeal — voiced concerns that a proposed development could jeopardize the area’s environmental and economic stability. Some others predicted that warehouses that have become familiar sites along Inland Empire freeways will someday be unnecessary if consumers shun online shopping.

“We can’t be afraid of tomorrow,” Mayor Ron deHarte said during the debate on the appeal. “These can be data storage locations. We can see technology and the technology industry very quickly move into these large warehouses.”

Supporters emphasized the project’s economic benefits, including the permanent jobs and possible significant tax revenue for the city. While an Environmental Impact Report identified unavoidable impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and transportation, the council concluded that the economic benefits would outweigh the environmental impacts.

That was a relief to several union representatives who spoke in favor of the project, citing job opportunities for local workers.

“We desperately need local jobs,” said one member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. “The journeys that we go on every single day to provide the best life possible for our babies are sometimes treacherous.”

The project will next go before the city’s Architectural Review Committee to evaluate the building design and landscaping before construction, which could start by the end of this year.

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