June 6 Daily Briefing: More apartments planned, the importance of zoning, animal camp coming, and more

Welcome to Thursday, everyone. Today marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing on the beaches of Normandy. As you might expect, the Palm Springs Air Museum is planning something special. Shortly after 8 a.m., and again around 9:30 a.m., you’ll want to look to the sky to see a vintage C-47 taking flight. The C-47 is one of the most iconic airplanes associated with the D-Day landing, as nearly 1,000 of them were used to drop paratroopers in the dark to capture roads that would permit assault troops to progress inland. If you hear a unique rumble overhead this morning, pause for a moment to give thanks!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Summer’s Comin’ Bébé” by Cousin Kula

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LEADING OFF

Developer submits early proposal for 136-unit apartment complex on former golf course land

While the plot of land once planned to be “the central park of Palm Springs” is still in legal limbo, the owner of an adjacent parcel has submitted plans to build a block of more than 100 new apartment buildings.

Driving the news: In May, the city received an intent to convert application from the owner of a 13-acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of East Mesquite Avenue and South Farrell Drive.

• Context: The parcel was retained by the current owner when he sold 120 acres of the former Mesquite Golf and Country Club in 2022. Oswit Land Trust (OLT) is now working to create the Prescott Preserve on the land. 

The details: Initial renderings for the project show that plans include 15 two-story multi-family apartment buildings with a total of 136 units. Half of the units will have one bedroom and one bathroom; 40% will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms; and the remaining units will be three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

• There are also plans for amenities including a swimming pool, dog park, and plans to remodel the existing clubhouse into a cafe.

Zoom out: The land trust has plans to turn their adjacent acreage into a thriving nature preserve, but nearly two years after taking over control of the land those plans have stalled amid a protracted legal battle between the Mesquite Country Club Homeowners Association and OLT.

• A portion of the case hinges on a line in the lease that states that any substantial development of the property requires the consent of the HOA.

Why it matters: Developers for the apartment project cited that same part of the lease agreement in their letter to the city, writing that, “… major alterations or new development on the property necessitates approval from the HOA.”

What happens next: The city said the project is in the early review process. There are many steps before the project ends up in front of the Planning Commission or City Council.

Dive deeper with our complete story, including details on the transformation of other city golf courses.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Public invited to learn about, comment on, city’s zoning code

Palm Springs hosts a lot of community meetings. On dog parks, pickleball, parks, airports, the navigation center, and more. Tonight, there’s a community meeting on the topic of zoning. It’s not the sexiest topic, to be sure, but the importance of a city’s zoning cannot be understated.

• Zoning codes determine land use (for example, they’re the reason why heavy industrial plants aren’t located right next to a preschool). But zoning also perpetuates dependance on cars. By putting residential and commercial zones miles apart, cities force residents to rely on cars to get to and from where they work or shop.
  
  
• If cities were zoned for more dense neighborhoods with mixed used buildings, there could be a future where people can safely walk to work, school, or socialize.
  
  
• Palm Springs doesn’t expect residents at the meeting to know everything about different complex zoning codes, but city leaders do hope to hear from residents about their priorities and how the city should look in the decades to come.
  
  
• Changes to the zoning code, which has not received a comprehensive update in 35 years, are expected to be adopted by summer of 2025.

Details: The meeting starts tonight at 5:30 at the Demuth Community Center multipurpose room.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
All Day | Participating Restaurants
Support local restaurants and enjoy discounts at your favorite spots as we head into the summer months. 

Pet Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter invites you to bring in your pet for low-cost vaccines, including vaccines for rabies and canine influenza. They are also offering microchip implantation and registration. ($15-$25)

Community Meeting: Palm Springs Zoning Code
5:30 p.m. | Demuth Community Center Multi-Purpose Room
The City of Palm Springs is updating its zoning code to better reflect today’s needs and accommodate future growth. This is the city’s first comprehensive update to the zoning code since 1988.

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Commissioners will consider the proposal for a Pride monument and hear an update on the AIDS Memorial, according to the agenda.

VillageFest
7 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
Starting this month and through the rest of the summer VillageFest, the weekly street fair featuring art, entertainment, shopping, and food, will be starting an hour later at 7 p.m. The Palm Springs Art Museum also has free admission tonight starting at 5 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival on Sunday at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.
  
  
• Third Wednesday Speaker Series: Juneteenth, Food for the Soul at the Mizell Center on June 19.
  
  
• Rock the City free concert at the Downtown Park on June 19.
  
  
• 2024 All American 4th of July at Sunrise Park on July 4. 
  
  
• ONE-PS Lip-Sync Battle at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on July 7.

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AND FINALLY …

A fun opportunity has opened up for 3rd-5th graders in Palm Springs.

Driving the news: The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is hosting three sessions of Animal Camp, a four-day experience for children to learn about pets, wildlife, and farm animals.

Dive deeper: Campers will explore reptiles, wildlife, pets, and farm animals, interact with horses, lizards, goats, cats, and dogs, and even bottle-feed newborn kittens.

• Some of the topics include summer safety for pets, understanding pet body language, and animal autonomy. Each week ends with a field trip to Laster Ranch Animal Rescue.

What to know: The sessions run from June 10 through 13, June 17 through 20, and June 24 through 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

Details: The deadline for applications is tomorrow, June 7, and it costs $300 per child with scholarships available through the city. Apply online here (Note that the form states applications were due on June 3, but the deadline was extended).