Planning Commission moves 82-unit affordable housing complex on San Rafael Drive forward

The Palm Springs Planning Commission approved plans for a new 100% affordable apartment complex on San Rafael Drive on Tuesday.

The commission granted a major development permit proposed by Red Tail Acquisitions, LLC, for 82 affordable apartment units at 305 West San Rafael Drive, a vacant lot located across the street from a self-storage facility and other industrial buildings and near Palm Springs Villas 1 and 2. The city’s staff report notes the three two- and three-story apartment buildings will “provide a clear separation from the industrial area transitioning to multi-family with lower density single-family to the south.”

The project will include a 55-year deed restriction ensuring the units remain affordable for extremely low, very low, low and moderate income residents. All 82 units will be set aside for residents who meet these income requirements, making the project 100% affordable. A mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units will be available, and the property will also include a dog park, playground and community room.

Income requirements are set at the county level through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and are calculated as a percentage of the median income. In Riverside County, the median income is currently $103,900. That means a family of four would qualify as extremely low income if they made less than $15,600 a year, very low income at less than $33,550, low income at less than $89,500, and moderate income at less than $124,700.

“You’re looking at a hotel front desk manager in the city at La Quinta or wherever, they’re making about $42,360 based off Glassdoor,” said a representative of Red Tail Acquisitions. “And then teachers here start at $63,207 a year and make on average $66,660 a year.”

The project will utilize the Density Bonus Law, which allows fully affordable projects to request increased density, building height and less off-street parking than the zoning code would otherwise require. Concerns from commissioners and a few members of the public primarily focused on the project’s reduced parking.

The applicant proposed a reduction of 21 off-street spaces, leaving a total of 137 spaces, which is allowed for low and very low-income housing projects near a major transit stop. The closest bus stop is at Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive near the Tower Market.

“We develop all across California, both market-rate and affordable housing. We understand the need for parking. We do not like to go down to the code minimum,” said Ron Wu with Red Tail, noting that some cities allow one parking space per unit for affordable housing projects. “Our goal for our projects is 1.7, we feel that is the solid number for our properties . . . With this project being affordable, we’re at 1.67, we think that’s a sufficient number.”

Sean Boyd with Affordable Housing Access, the nonprofit that would help manage the site, also said the parking ratio is adequate, especially with the mix of one- to three-bedroom units.

The project will also include street improvements along West San Rafael Drive, Virginia Drive and Puerto Del Sol, including road widening and sidewalk installation. As a condition of approval, the Planning Commission asked city staff to look into changing red curb lines along San Rafael to allow for parking.

Other approval conditions included a bigger dog park, more parking lot shading and adding a splash pad. The splash pad addresses concerns raised by a Palm Springs Villas resident who said the complex had previously been “invaded by trespassers and active criminals using our gated swimming pool,” and worried that “children from the proposed project will come onto our private property.”

---