HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment Letter_Juliana Freese - Item 3BJuliana Freese
61115 Deronda Ave
Whitewater, CA 92282
(760)641-6820
julzfreese@gmail.com
9th October 2024
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Palm Springs Fulfillment
Center project on Indian Canyon Dr and 19th Ave. As a native-born citizen of Palm Springs
and current resident of Whitewater, I have a strong connection to the beauty and unique
character of our local desertscape, and this project lies in direct opposition to this natural
beauty. My concerns over this proposed project are centered around the potential
environmental impact and a disturbing lack of evidence that the City of Palm Springs and
local residents will gain any worthwhile benefits.
As a child I recall the countless times I traversed the 1-10 corridor in our valley, taking
solace in the untouched wild nature around me. When I later attended College of the
Desert and took my first Natural Resources course, the wonders of our local ecosystem
were made clear to me. From our sand dunes to the many critters that inhabit our desert
flora, there is no place like the Coachella Valley - and our residents and tourists know that
our scenic beauty is worth preserving.
While reading through The General Plan (2007) for Palm Springs, I found repeating
language that highlights the city's original intention to focus future industrial plans for this
area on businesses that would "serve a regional population" (pg 2-9), envisioning wind
energy facilities and generation of energy resources and jobs as an "excellent example of
how the integration of compatible uses can provide multiple benefits." (pg 2-20) Being a
giant, ambiguous warehouse with no guaranteed tax windfalls (no defined function) or
jobs (undefined percentage of automated function), I find this project in opposition to
these stated goals. What benefits can our residents be guaranteed in the approval of this
project? I urge the city to note the original intent of The General Plan to preserve our
natural beauty and promote growth through the careful balance of regional benefits while
minimizing environmental disruption.
As listed in the comment letter by South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD), the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project is rife with
presumptions that are used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions. I am disturbed to
learn that a project which includes a two‐story, 739,360‐square‐foot structure for
industrial warehouse use could be approved without knowing what the building will
specifically be used for. The amount of truck traffic coming to and from the proposed site
is especially concerning to me because of the tremendous impact vehicle traffichason
the production of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The encapsulating topography of
our surrounding mountain ranges make the Coachella Valley especially susceptible to
adverse air quality if we invite infrastructure that brings GHG and ozone problems.
All of us have felt the cruel touch of climate change through the effects of Hurricane
Hilary, altering our landscape and our lives through flooding and recurring massive dust
storms thereafter. Interrupting the delicate balance of our ecosystem through the
unsubstantiated increase of GHGs from this project will only add into the feedback loop of
climate change, further encouraging extreme weather events such as this.
I highly encourage the city to explore alternatives to this project that align with the values
of our desert community. Any projects that the city considers in the proposed location
needs to provide more guaranteed benefit and raise less environmental concerns to win
over our community. The spectacular views that exist along our highway are precious to
me, to longtime and newly settled residents, and to our many yearly tourists and visitors.
As this is the first giant warehouse proposal for our area, I believe it is our duty to look
with critical eyes before we allow this project to set a precedent in our community.
Juliana Freese