Nov. 4 Daily Briefing: Permit denied, summit planned, it’s Election Day, and more

Happy Tuesday, where it’s election day for Proposition 50. California voters appear poised to approve Gov. Gavin Newsom’s congressional redistricting plan, with polls showing strong support and his campaign’s star-studded ads dominating the airwaves. In fact, donations have been pouring in so fast that they actually crashed the state’s campaign finance website. If you still need to drop off or cast your ballot in Palm Springs, turn here for how to do that.

🎶 Setting the mood: “The Choice Is Yours” by Black Sheep

LEADING OFF

Architectural Review Committee denies hillside home near historic ruins

The Palm Springs Architectural Review Committee voted unanimously Monday to deny construction of a nearly 5,000-square-foot hillside home near the city’s only designated historic ruins. Developer Santa Rosa PS, LLC, has 15 days to appeal the decision to the Planning Commission.

Driving the news: The proposed single-family residence would have been built on a 1.56-acre hillside property at the western terminus of West Santa Rosa Drive, approximately 65 feet from the Avery Field Cabin ruins, which were designated as a Class 1 landmark in 2019.

Looking back: This marks the second time the project appeared before the committee, which had previously asked for revisions including more accurate drawings, new site sections, and a reduction in square footage.

At issue: Committee members cited multiple reasons for the denial, including concerns about the pad size, color and materials, the building’s arrangement on the site, continuity with surrounding homes, view corridors, and hydrology questions raised by neighbors.

What changed: The developer had reduced the home’s total footprint by 45 square feet and moved the structure more than 4 feet from the neighboring property line in response to October feedback.

What they’re saying: “We’ve done our best to appease as many people … and [we] realize this view is an issue, but when you have a property next to a vacant lot, views can’t be guaranteed,” said developer Mark Temple.

What’s next: If the developer appeals and the Planning Commission upholds the denial, the matter would go to the City Council for final determination.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Section 14 organization to mark settlement anniversary with summit

• The Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors organization will host a community summit Nov. 15 marking one year since the city of Palm Springs and survivors and descendants of Section 14 reached a $27 million reparative justice settlement addressing racially motivated displacement and property destruction.
  
• The free summit, titled “Healing, Accountability, and Moving Forward,” will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Paul in the Desert Church and include workshops on racial healing and trauma recovery, a town hall on the settlement’s implementation, and an interfaith service at 3 p.m. Registration is encouraged at this site.
  
• Bottom line: The settlement, announced in 2024, represents one of the largest municipal reparative justice agreements in U.S. history. “What was accomplished in Palm Springs has had ripple effects throughout the state of California and the nation,” said Areva Martin,  lead counsel for the group.

Read our complete story online

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Desert Water Agency Board of Directors
8 a.m. | DWA Office
The DWA holds Board of Directors meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month. You can find the agenda here.

Yoga with Mariana
10 a.m. / 2 p.m. | Leisure Center
Our affordable community yoga classes are the perfect way to recharge your body, mind, and spirit for much less than the big studios. ($12)

Palm Springs Creative Connections: AI/Tech Edition
5 p.m. | Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
Palm Springs Creative Connections is a curated series of intimate tech salons bringing together the most interesting minds in the Coachella Valley and beyond. ($40)

Ryusei Kobayashi in Concert
5 p.m. | Temple Isaiah
The Palm Springs International Piano Competition starts its series off in style with Ryusei Kobayashi. Now a 15-year-old high school student, he’s a 9th grader at Stanford Online High School and studies with Rodolfo Leone at the Colburn School of Music. ($125)

Queer Colon Care Collective
5 p.m. | Virtual
This support group is open to LGBTQ+ colorectal cancer patients, survivors, or caregivers. Organizers will offer resources and a sense of community in a safe place to share experiences. 

Melba Miller’s Jazz Oasis
5:30 p.m. | Cultural Center
Join songstress Melba Miller and special guests for an evening dedicated to serious listeners and lovers of Jazz. ($22)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• The Last Hug projection photography installation at Steven Richard Baumbach Gallery Wednesday through Saturday
  
• Palm Springs Pride from Thursday through Sunday
  
• Kevin McDermott Human/Nature exhibit at Janssen Artspace on Friday
  
• Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Saturday
  
• West Side Story in Concert benefit for Dezart Performs Nov. 13-15
  
• Palm Springs Hospitality Golf Tournament on Nov. 14
  
• Section 14 Survivors Anniversary Summit at St. Paul in the Desert Church on Nov. 15
  
• Coachella Valley Filipino Festival on Nov. 15
  
• Gregory Douglass LIVE at Revolution Stage Company on Nov. 16

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 Beau, a 1-year-old male domestic medium hair. Staff at the shelter say he is super friendly and gives a lot of affection.

• Staff also said he’s a very curious little guy

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. 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.