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Are we asleep at the switch…again?
CATHEDRAL CITY STAKES CLAIM ON I-10 AREA PROPERTY
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"Desert
Hot Springs has not expressed any interest in this area, from what I
understand," according to Cathedral City Engineer Bill Bayne. |
DLNews Cathedral City Council Watch 27.JAN.07
The City Council of Cathedral City voted unanimously to prezone 1,275
acres north of I-10, bordering Palm Drive on the west and Varner Road on the
north at their Wednesday night council meeting.
Council voted to adopt a proposed ordinance that prezones this area to be
annexed to Cathedral City’s existing city limits, along with a total of
88.5 acres, split into four different sections of land, spread apart from
one another.
"We are prezoning this area, with hopes to annex," said
Cathedral City Mayor Kathleen De Rosa. "It is within the city’s
sphere of influence."
Geographically speaking, according to Council Item 2, this proposed
annexation would cover the area where the Chevron and Jack-In-The-Box sit on
Palm Drive. The AM/PM Gas Station and MiniMart across the street would be
included among the four proposed areas in Section A, covered in Council Item
3. "Desert Hot Springs has not expressed any interest in this area,
from what I understand," according to City Engineer Bill Bayne.
Palmwood – Progress or Problems?
The proposed Palmwood Project in the area of Indian and Highway 62 is a
major concern for the City of Desert Hot Springs. The DHS City Council
majority opted out of the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP)
largely under the influence of the developers of the Palmwood project. Now a
major push is being made to include this project within the City limits –
it is currently unincorporated County territory. The plan calls for the
development of nearly 2000 acres of property which will include major areas
for commercial development, condominiums, estate residents, an amphitheater
and two golf courses. Unfortunately, the land lies within the boundaries of
many "protected species" and is now the subject of a lawsuit from
the Sierra Club. read
more about this lawsuit here
Question
1
Who are the Developers of Palmwood?
This is becoming a bit of a mystery. If you ask some of the proponents
they’ll say it is a major development of Landmark. Landmark who, I ask?
There is a very large and well known company - Landmark Development (http://www.landmarkdevelopers.org)
– with no reported relationship with Palmwood in Desert Hot springs. There
is Landmark Development Grout from Florida (http://www.landmarkdevelopmentgroup.com/home.html).
Once again, there is no mention of Palmwood or Michael Crosby. Then there is
California Landmark Development (http://www.californialandmark.com). Absent
on this web site is any notice of Palmwood in Desert Hot Springs.
With further research, we find LandMark Properties
in Minnesota, naming Michael Crosby as President.
So, who is LandMark Properties of
Minnesota? What do we know about this company? Before the City of Desert Hot Springs jumps in to support this developer (if
it is not too late) shouldn’t we have done more research?
Question
2
Since it would appear that LandMark Properties
of Minnesota – who doesn’t even have a web site – has no experience
with major residential/commercial development, is Desert Hot Springs casting
its resources with an unknown?
Question
3
Could all of the above lead us into another
Silver Sage situation which cost the City $13 million before it was done?
Question
4
Shouldn’t we cut our losses and run before we
get ourselves into more legal and financial trouble?
DHS desperately needs commercial development and the most exciting part
of the Palmwood Plan is the proposed commercial properties at the junction
of Highway 62 and Indian Avenue. However, moving forward with the currently
proposed Palmwood plan offers no guarantees of the commercial property being
developed before the residential. Residential development costs the City big
bucks to service. How does DHS adsorb these costs waiting for the commercial
development to help in the future?
Consider this – there are already over 100 golf courses here in the
Coachella Valley. What sense does it make to have two more in Desert Hot
Springs? (Additionally, there is a golf course proposed in the Tuscan Hills
development - Meyer-Luce - at the eastern terminus of Pierson Blvd. This
project is currently on hold, having been originally proposed over 15 years
ago.) Would it not be more appropriate to encourage the development of
property to serve other recreational uses – equestrian, hiking, mineral
water (e.g. Two Bunch Palms). Which would add more to the economic base of
Desert Hot Springs? – More golf courses, or the development of equestrian
estates in the Palmwood area that has access to the Pacific Crest trail and
all of the many trails in the adjoining BLM land. This type of development
could also include major commercial properties at Hwy 62 and Indian – a
win, win situation.
Without further investigation, it would appear that Michael Crosby is a
man of considerable financial resources with no development background. He
has assembled a team of "spin artists" to propose a project that
he, then, might be able to flip – then what? Before the City wades further
into this mire it is important that severe development timetables be
established for the project. The last thing this City needs in another 2000
acres of graded, dust generating building sites that may sit there for 20
years of more before the first foundation is put in place.
I-10 Overpass – Why the
delays?
The overpass at I-10 and Palm Drive has been a "top priority"
in Riverside County since 1988 according to John Wolmuth the Executive
director of CVAG (Coachella Valley Association of Governments).
As motorists sit fuming while waiting to cross over the I-10 they wonder
– "what’s the City doing about all of this?" It appears –
not enough. It is time for our City Council to begin organizing the public
to hold the accountable civil servants’ feet to the fire.
What’s the holdup?
This depends on who you talk to. According toi John Wolmuth the City of
Palm Springs is the lead agency for the project which – by CalTrans
mandate – has been divided into three separate phases. Phase 1 is the
widening of Gene Autry Trail from Escuela in Palm Springs north to the Union
Pacific Railroad Tracks. Phase 2 is the 4 lane bridge over the railroad
tracks and phase 3 is the interchange at I-10. Mr. Wolmuth states that the
project in 90% designed and ready to submit to CalTrans for their approval
and the initiation of the "right of way" process.
However, in a conversation with Marcus Fuller – the Palm Springs City
engineer working on the project – there is another story. He states that
Palm springs is, indeed, the lead agency but for only phase one and two of
the project. The county is the lead agency for the interchange – phase
three. There seems to be some disagreement as to whether the phases must
progress in order or if each can move at its own pace. Fuller stated that
the engineering plans for Gene Autry Trail are virtually complete, but that the
plans for the bridge over the Union Pacific tracks have yet to start.
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