Panorama Road hillside home approved for major renovation, expansion

The Palm Springs Architectural Review Committee on Wednesday approved changes to a hillside home at 855 West Panorama Road, near the North Lykken Trailhead. 

Hillside homes are subject to different requirements than other residences in Palm Springs due to their potential impact on the city’s viewshed. On hillside parcels, new homes, home additions and changes to landscaping and other features are subject to review by the Architectural Review Committee, which weighs whether projects blend in or clash with the desert landscape, along with other factors. 

“I feel like in these locations, less is more, right? You want to bring as much of the natural environment into these sites so that they don’t look weird, they’re blending into their surroundings,” said one committee member on Wednesday. 

The approved Major Architectural Application includes renovating an existing 3,317-square foot single-family home with a 536-square foot garage, by partially demolishing approximately 2,235-square feet of the existing residence (the rest will remain unchanged). The new reconstructed home will total 4,295-square feet.

Other changes include replacing the home’s current circular driveway with a single entry from Panorama Road leading to a two-car garage. New landscaping will replace the hardscape that was used for the second half of the driveway. 

The committee also approved a request for a reduced front yard setback, which city staff determined is allowed pursuant to the portion of the Palm Springs Zoning Code governing hillside lots. 

The home’s design will be “contemporary/ modern with flat roofs,” according to a city staff report, with building exterior colors in a plaster gray and similar pewter and gray tones. The landscaping will add two Wilson Olive trees and accent plants like Aloe Vera and Organ Pipe cactus. 

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