Palm Springs Planning Commission backs amended Serena Park development plan

The Palm Springs Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of an amended development agreement for the Serena Park residential project during its meeting Wednesday evening. The amended agreement revises the project timeline and development fees for the 386-unit development planned for land that was occupied by the former Palm Springs Country Club golf course.

Serena Park, originally approved in 2016, was planned to consist of 294 detached single-family homes and 92 attached single-family homes on the 126-acre site. The land is either adjacent to or surrounding multiple existing neighborhoods, including the Four Seasons community, the Golden Sands mobile home development, and Whitewater Club.

In September 2021, elected officials allowed the developer of the proposed Serena Park project to delay moving forward in exchange for a $500,000 payment to the city and promises to clean up and secure the property. The money was deposited with the city, but the developers eventually went shopping for a buyer for the land.

That new buyer — Suncal — has emerged, staff reports show, and is now interested in moving forward with the project.

The amended development agreement extends the project timeline, with the first phase set to begin no later than June 2025 and the final phase to be completed by Nov. 30, 2027. The agreement also increases the outstanding development fee balance from $2.5 million to $3.2 million, to be paid in full by November 2027.

During the public hearing, residents expressed concerns about the project’s impact on their communities, the current conditions of the vacant land, and the need for two egresses instead of one for residents of existing homes due to safety concerns.

In response to the residents’ concerns, a representative of the applicant assured the commission that the new developer is committed to implementing a comprehensive security program and cleanup plan to address the site’s maintenance issues.

The commission discussed various aspects of the amended agreement, including the timing of infrastructure improvements, the construction of a public park, and the inclusion of additional access points. They also recommended that the developer hold a face-to-face meeting with the residents to address their questions and concerns about the project.

The commission’s recommendation will now be forwarded to the Palm Springs City Council for final approval.

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