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Home My WebLink AboutDesert Riders - PC Agenda Item 4.C- Oswitt_Prescott PreserveFrom:David Newell To:Anita Fields; Edward Robertson Subject:Fw: PC Agenda Item 4.C- Oswitt/Prescott Preserve Date:Monday, July 22, 2024 1:23:24 PM Attachments:PSGP Recreational Trails Map.pdf Figure 4-4 Bikeways and Recreational Trails_DRAFT_Jan_2024.pdf From: dougsky1@aol.com <dougsky1@aol.com> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2024 1:14 PM To: Christopher Hadwin <Christopher.Hadwin@palmspringsca.gov>; David Newell <David.Newell@palmspringsca.gov>; Edward.Robinson@palmspringsca.gov <edward.robinson@palmspringsca.gov> Cc: Rick Minjares <Rick.Minjares@palmspringsca.gov>; Mark Graham <mark.graham@idahoresortrealty.com> Subject: PC Agenda Item 4.C- Oswitt/Prescott Preserve NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Good afternoon Christopher, David and Edward- We are writing this email on behalf of Desert Riders Inc. and Desert Riders Trails Fund. Inc.(Desert Riders). Desert Riders has been actively planning, building, and maintaining trails in Palm Springs and surrounding communities since 1930. Our equestrian riding club has been riding the Tahquitz wash area long before Mesquite Country Club opened. The Bud Furer Trail is a key component of the city's approval of the golf course plan. Bud Furer was a property owner of some of the property and a condition of his selling the land was that a equestrian trial be established to maintain the city's loop trail system connecting the Tahquitz Wash, Palm Canyon Wash and the North and South Lykken Trails in the hillside. Desert Riders as well as members of Los Compadres ride the Bud Furer Trail as individuals and in more formal group rides. I am hoping that the Planning Commission staff report and analysis overlooked the existing Bud Furer Trail and that the City supports the continued use of this General Plan Trail designated on the General Plan Recreational Trails Map and the draft Bikeways and Recreational Trails Plan. The staff report very specifically only mentions hiking and biking trails. Additionally the applicants Justification Statement omits any reference to the existing equestrian trail and only mentions hiking and biking. As currently written the staff report does not address the General Plan Trail and the conditions of approval do not address maintaining or relocating this General Plan Trail. Based upon a review of the staff report, draft resolution, applicants Justification Statement, and a detailed review of the plans and documents in the agenda packet the proposed Minor Modification of PD 153 cannot be approved since it is in violation of the General Plan. Here is why. The diagrams and plans that are before the Planning Commission do not show the existing trail alignment. The only document that shows any part of the existing trail alignment is the Existing Tree and Large Under Story Vegetation Plan. This diagram labels a small segment of the existing equestrian trail. The Illustrative Site Plan and the Site Features Plan show a hiking trail and partially relocated equestrian trail along the southern boundary of the property. The equestrian trail appears to end just south of the confluence of the Tahquitz Wash and the Baristo Flood Control Channel. The hiking trail continues westerly and then utilizes the the existing bridge to cross over the Tahquitz Wash. The equestrian trail just ends. I have attached copies of the exhibits included in the staff report with hand written notes regarding what is shown and not shown on the diagrams regarding the equestrian trail. As noted above, the staff report makes no mention of the General Plan equestrian trail, makes no mention of the proposed realignment of the existing trail. and makes no mention of why the equestrian trail appears to abruptly end in the middle of the property. In the documents I attached I added orange dots to show the existing trail alignment form Sunrise Way to El Cielo. The existing trail and its alignment were carefully planned to not only work with the former golf course but to navigate the crossing of the Tahquitz Wash in the safest location for horse riders and horses. The Tahquitz Wash crossing was carefully located just west of the confluence of the Tahquitz Wash and Barristo Flood Control Channel for the following reasons: 1. The location is up stream of the Baristo Flood Control Channel so that when there are low flows the Tahquitz stream crossing has lower water flows and the urban runoff from the Baristo Flood Control Channel are located down stream of the crossing. 2. The Tahquitz Creek westerly of this location has wash bottom conditions that are unstable for riders and horses due to the confluence of the Unnamed Channel, its urban runoff, and deeper water conditions. Desert Riders has tried to work with Oswitt/Prescott Preserve Board of Directors and staff for over two years to resolve the equestrian trail alignment and frankly have been surprised by the appearance of the the Minor Amendment to PD 153 appearing on the agenda. We have met with Oswitt/Prescott representatives, walked the property multiple times with representatives, and have been told conflicting information regarding the applicants intention for the equestrian trail. Additionally Oswit/Prescott Preserve has blocked access to the existing trail by placing landscape debris over the trail and telling us we cannot cross the Tahquitz Wash. At this time we ask planning staff to issue a revised and corrected staff report so that the administrative record is factual regarding the General Plan Equestrian Trail, factual about the proposed relocation of the equestrian trail, and factual about the diagrams that are before the Planning Commission. An existing equestrian trail that is relocated and then shown as a dead end trail is not consistent with the General Plan and constitutes a project under CEQA. As currently described in the staff report, in the applicants Justification Statement, and as shown on the applicant proposed plans and exhibits the project violates the General Plan, and causes a potentially significant environmental impact that is not analyzed in the staff report or mitigated. We believe that this item should be continued until such time the staff report is corrected, the equestrian trail is shown in a safe location, and that a condition of approval be added to require a dedicated right of way for the equestrian trail in the existing trail location. The condition of approval should also require the applicant to construct and maintain the equestrian trail. If it is the applicants intent to terminate the equestrian trail in the middle of the property then the Minor PD amendment cannot be approved without the Planning Commission and City Council amending the General Plan and conducting a full environmental assessment. Desert Riders has built and maintained trails in partnership with the City since our inception. For many years we acted as the trails maintenance organization for the city and we split cost with the City. We would like to see the Oswitt/ Prescott Preserve proceed and we think it will be a great addition to the city. However, as currently proposed it does not conform to the General Plan and could result in the elimination of a important equestrian trail. We look forward to working with the City and Oswitt/Prescott Preserve to positively resolve the equestrian trail issue. Doug Evans, President Desert Riders Trails Fund Inc. Mark Graham, Round Up Boss Desert Riders CC- Jim Priest, City Attorney (please forward) ·|}þ111 ·|}þ111 ·|}þ111 ·|}þ111 %&'(10 %&'(10 0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000Feet F Legend TrailHeads Hiking/Equestrian 4-Wheel Dr ive Unpaved Road Proposed Hiking/Equestrian/Backpacking Bike Paths Streets City and Sphere Limits Dillon Rd. DISCLAIMER:THE CITY OF PALM SPRING S MAKES NO WARRANTY, REPRESEN TATION, OR GUARANTEE O F ANY KIND REGARDING EITHERANY MAPS OR OTHER INFORMATION PR OVIDED HEREIN OR THE SO URCES O F SU CH MAPS O R O THER INFORMATION. THECITY OF PALM SPRING S SPECIFICALLY DISCL AIMS ALL REPR ESENTATION S O R WARRAN TIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,INCLU DING , WITHO UT LIMITATION, THE IMPL IED WARRANTIES O F MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FO R A PARTICULARPURPOSE. The City of Palm Spring s assume s no liability either for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the info rmation provide dregardless o f the cause of such or fo r any d ecision made, action taken , or action not taken b y the user in relian ce upo n any ma ps orinformation provided herein. Data Source s:City of Palm Sp rings CIT Y OF PALM SPRINGSRECREATIONAL TRAILS MAP ADOPTED BY TH E PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5, 2011 BY RESOLUTION 23031 Tahquitz CanyonVisitor Center Palm SpringsRegionalAirport 34th Ave (Along west side of Palm Canyon Wash Levee)(Along Whitewater Levee) G e n e A utry Trail Murray Canyon Dr.Calle Palo FierroBaristo RdCamino RealCompadre RdTamarisk Rd Tachevah Dr Camino RealPath: P:\PalmSprin gs_BikePaths\Trails_Map_Fina l.mxd McMANUS TRAIL EAGLE CANYON TRAIL CLARA BURGESS TRAIL PALM CANYON WASH TRAIL ARABY TRAIL SHANNON TRAIL BURNS TRAIL WILD HORSE TRAILTHELEMAN CANYON GARSTIN TRAILHENDERSON TRAILALEXANDER TRAIL OSWIT CANYON SOUTH LYKKEN TRAIL NORTH LYKKEN TRAIL SKYLINE TRAIL MUSEUM TRAIL NORTH LYKKEN TRAIL TRAIL LOOP DIKE TRAIL CONNECTION TO SNOW CREEK ANDPACIFIC CREST TRAIL BUD FURER TRAIL WHITEWATERWASH TRAIL Map Prepared by: General Plan Figure 4-4 Revised October 5, 2011 %&'( %&'( |ÿ |ÿ |ÿ |ÿ |ÿSUNRISE WAYS AVENIDA CABALLEROSALEJO RD S PALM CANYON DRE TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY ARABYDRGENE AUTRY T R L CAMINOREALRAMON RD CROSSLEY RDN PALM CANYON DRMU R RA Y C A N Y ON D R E VISTA CHINO SAN RAFAEL DR FARRELL DRTACHEVAH DRN INDIAN CANYON DRMESQUITE AVE LA V E R N EWAY BARONA RDE PAL M C A N Y O N D R BOGERT TRL EL CIELO RDPE REZRD SH - 1 1 1 RACQUET CLUB RD HERMOSA DRDILLON RD DINAH S HOREDRBELARDO RD20TH AVE GOLF CLUBDRPALM DRVARNE R R D GARNET A VE CATHEDRAL CITY DESERT HOT SPRINGS DESERT HOT SPRINGS 10 10 62 111 111 111 111 Palm Springs City Limits Palm Springs Sphere of Influence Adjacent City Limits Railroad Proposed Bicycle Facilities Class I Bike Path Class II Bike Lane Class III Bike Route Mixed Use (Class IV) Proposed in CVAG ATP Existing Bicycle Facilities Class I Bike Path Class II Bike Lane Class III Bike Route Mixed Use (Class IV) Trail_Terminus Trails_Lines 0 10.5 Miles Palm Springs General Plan 0 3,000 6,0001,500 Feet Date: 6/20/2023 Bikeways and Recreational Trails Figure 4-4