Sept. 26 Daily Briefing: Development extension, Council meeting preview, weekend premiere, and more

Welcome to Thursday! You may have heard that a Sprouts grocery store is coming to the city, taking over the space formerly occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond in a shopping center at East Ramon and South Gene Autry. We learned yesterday that opening is currently planned for Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 a.m., but that the company is hiring right now for 94 full- and part-time positions. Department managers, clerks and more are needed. If such an opportunity interests you, check out all the available positions on the company’s career website here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Lonesome” by Bill Frisell (an accurate description of our newsroom without Kendall 😭)

LEADING OFF

Commission extends deadline for 31-home development

The Palm Springs Planning Commission granted a two-year extension for Casa Verona, a 31-lot single-family residential project, at its regular meeting Wednesday evening. 

Behind the scenes: While asking for the extension, developer Mark Temple cited progress on the nearby Serena Park project on land formerly occupied by the Palm Springs Country Club as a reason for construction delays. 

• The extension allows more time to commence building amid changing market conditions, he said, but also allows for homes to fit in with those planned for Serna Park.

What they’re saying: “Our primary objective is to get the project developed,” Temple told commissioners. “There are some really positive things. Probably number one is the Serena Park project, because that kind of sets the whole tone.”

At issue: Commissioners raised concerns about limited egress, lack of on-street parking, and absence of recreational areas. In the end, the extension was approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The 6.44-acre site is zoned R-1E, allowing for 5,000-square-foot lots and smaller setbacks. 

• It’s the first development to use the new zoning classification, created in 2021 to encourage higher-density single-family homes without relying on planned development districts.

What’s next: The development still requires architectural review and approval before construction can begin. 

• The extension gives Temple until September 2025 to begin construction.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🏛️ What to watch for at tonight’s City Council meeting

The Palm Springs City Council will reconvene in closed and regular sessions today. The following items could be among the highlights, according to the agenda:

• Multiple projects at Palm Springs International Airport will be up for approval, including the purchase of a truck-mounted striping machine, restroom trailers, and holiday decorations, along with contract extensions for parking services and flight information system maintenance.
  
  
• The Council will also discuss allowing temporary cannabis events in the city and water conservation efforts that would lead to the restoration of the historic landscape design at City Hall.
  
  
• Details: The meeting takes place in Council Chambers at City Hall starting at 5:30 p.m. You can submit comments via an online public comment form, in person, or by calling the city clerk’s office at 760-323-8204 prior to the end of the public comment period. View the meeting live on the city’s website, YouTube or Spectrum channel 17.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Cinema Diverse
Times vary | Palm Springs Cultural Center
This film festival runs through Sunday and features an exciting and varied combination of feature films and short films from around the world celebrating LGBTQ+ cinema. ($14.50)

The Dinah
All day | Multiple locations
The Dinah, the world’s premier music festival and event for queer women, lesbians, and trans and nonbinary people, celebrates its 33rd year in Palm Springs. 

Pet Vaccine Clinic
9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
The shelter provides low-cost vaccines every Thursday, excluding holidays. You do not need to be a Palm Springs resident to attend. These services are by appointment only. To make an appointment, please call 760-416-5718.

Indians vs Rattlers Volleyball
4 p.m. | PSHS
The Ramon Road Rivalry pits high school volleyball teams against each other at Paul Summers Gym at PSHS! ($6-$8)

City Council
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs City Hall
The City of Palm Springs welcomes the community’s input on matters being considered by the City Council. For an agenda and participation instructions, look here.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Springs VillageFest takes place every Thursday on Palm Canyon Drive downtown. The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food.

SAVE THE DATE

• Palm Springs Police Department open house on Saturday.
  
  
• Boo2Bullying Wellness Festival at Palm Springs Stadium on Saturday. 
  
  
• City Council Candidate Forum at Demuth Community Center on Oct. 5.
  
  
• One Night Out Rio benefiting The Foundation for PSUSD on Oct. 5.
  
  
• Amy’s Purpose non-profit fundraiser celebrating the legacy of Liberace on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Center Stage benefiting LGBTQ+ Center of the Desert on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker on Oct. 22.

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AND FINALLY …

A Palm Springs resident’s documentary chronicling 30 years of LGBTQ+ representation in media is set to make its world theatrical premiere this weekend at the Cinema Diverse film festival. 

Driving the news: Nicholas Snow’s 150-minute film, “Tinseltown’s Queer: 30 Years Later,” won Best Feature Film at the LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival. It will screen at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Camelot Theaters as part of Cinema Diverse, the Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Why it matters: The documentary showcases the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment over three decades, combining media savvy with queer activism.

• It features archival television clips of Hollywood stars and champions of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.

The backstory: Snow created the original “Tinseltown’s Queer” public access television show in 1993, reaching up to 600,000 households across four cable systems in the Los Angeles area.

• “Long before Will & Grace, Brokeback Mountain, Queer Eye or RuPaul, there was Nicholas Snow and Tinseltown’s Queer,” Snow says.

Details: Tickets for the screening are $14.50 and available online through the Cinema Diverse website here.

Dive deeper with our complete story