Jan. 28 Daily Briefing: Apartment project, Council preview, our pet of the week, and more

Happy Wednesday! We’ve been getting lots of questions about the planned In-N-Out Burger in South Palm Springs, and the answer is still the same: it remains in the planning stages. The project came up at last night’s Planning Commission meeting, where one commissioner said it’s moving closer to initial permits but still not there. Updated plans are about to be resubmitted after discussions with the developer about minor exterior color changes, with an Architectural Review Committee review likely next. Stay tuned! 🍔

🎶 Setting the mood: “Toumast Tincha” by Tinariwen (A Tuareg band from the Saharan Desert and pioneers of “desert blues.” New album out in March!)

LEADING OFF

Planning Commission moves 115-unit affordable housing project forward

The Palm Springs Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a fully affordable 115-unit apartment complex at the northwest corner of West San Rafael Drive and McCarthy Road.

Driving the news: Pacific West Communities will build four three-story buildings with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units on a currently undeveloped 4.04-acre lot, just south of the city’s Navigation Center.

• The project includes a pool, dog park, and children’s play area.

The big picture: The project uses California’s Density Bonus Law, which allows developers to exceed local requirements when providing affordable housing.

•  Pacific West received waivers to build up to 30.3 feet tall — above the typical 24-foot limit — and to increase density to 22.6 dwelling units per acre instead of the maximum 15.

What they’re saying: A company representative said Pacific West has “almost 2,000 units” constructed or in the works across the Coachella Valley, with affordable housing projects underway in Indio, La Quinta, and Rancho Mirage.

Context: The commission approved another affordable 82-unit project down the street at 305 West San Rafael Drive in November. Some nearby residents expressed concerns earlier this month about potential overconcentration of affordable housing in the area.

• The City Council voted to uphold that project’s approval after two adjacent homeowners appealed.

What’s next: The Architectural Review Committee will review the complex’s landscaping, building elevations, and fencing at a later date.

Dive deeper with our complete story

BRIEFLY

🏛️ What to watch for at tonight’s City Council meeting

• The Palm Springs City Council will discuss several key items at tonight’s meeting, including a presentation from Police Chief Andy Mills on citywide traffic initiatives, a public hearing on historic designation of the Fallows-Cone Residence, and the first reading of an ordinance on undergrounding private utility connections.
  
• The council will also review a report on the Downtown Parking Strategy and consider an ordinance to restructure the city’s Hotel Operations Incentive Program.
  
• Get involved: Residents can attend in person, watch live on the city’s YouTube channel, at palmspringsca.gov , or view on Community Television Channel 17. The agenda can be found here, and you can submit public comments online here.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Modernist Treasures Walking Tour
9:30 a.m. | Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Take a tour of the Indian Canyons Golf Resort, home to a luxurious collection of modernist residences as well as the first 18-hole golf course in Palm Springs. ($40)

Palm Springs Parent Support Group
10 a.m. | Leisure Center
This is a group for parents of all stages, designed to foster relationships. Join us for a drop in visit or ongoing sessions.

Chinese Mah Jong Open Play
2 p.m. | Mizell Center
Practice your skills and play with others. This is a FREE library program; you do not have to be a member of Mizell Center to attend.

Finding The Good Inside the Grief: An Evening with Jon Imparato
5:30 p.m. | Cultural Center
Author, producer, and LGBTQ+ arts leader Jon Imparato joins Corey Roskin for an intimate evening of conversation and storytelling centered on his memoir “The Good Inside the Grief.”

Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The city council meets this evening in closed and open session. Check out the agenda here. 

Spamilton
7:30 p.m. | Plaza Theatre
Spamilton: An American Parodyis a side-splitting new musical parody. Acrash course of everyone’s favorite Broadway blockbusters, including celebrity satires, pop culture zings accompanied with hip-hop on the piano! ($45)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Third Annual Palm Springs Readers’ Festival on Friday and Saturday
  
• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Sale on Saturday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church
  
• NUANCE Modernism Art Exhibit on Feb. 6 at Janssen Art Space
  
• Palm Springs Police Department open house on Feb. 8
  
• Palm Springs Speaks with Cheech Marin on Feb. 10
  
• Modernism Week from Feb. 12 through 22 throughout the city
  
• Palm Springs Modernism Show on Feb. 14 and 15 at the convention center
  
• Palm Springs International Jazz Festival from Feb. 19-22

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community.

Today, we invite you to meet Sake, an 8-year-old male Somestic Shorthair who is a new check-in at the shelter. Staff say he’s an absolute lovebug once he warms up to you.

• Staff also said he was born to be in the desert because he loves nothing more than soaking up the sunlight.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 East Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at 760-416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here.