HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/17/2014 - STAFF REPORTS - 00 (2) Jay Thompson
From: Center Court Palm Springs <centercourtpsp@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 3:23 PM
To: )ay Thompson; Steve Pougnet
Subject: Dolce Hotel Development
Sending this to the City Clerk for distribution as appropriate to the City Council and staff.
City of Palm Springs
Dear Mayor and City Council -
Coming soon to you will be an application to extend the development agreement for the property located across
from the Convention Center-- the Dolce Hotel project. We understand this item will be considered in closed
session.
Although we are not in full support of the existing development due to the impacts it has on our homes and
entire condo complex, we are appreciative of the modifications that the developer, Ms. Kibby, made last year.
This was after a series of meetings that we initiated after learning the development was progressing. Of course,
we believe that if the Center Court HOA had not contacted the city and brought issues to the attention of the
Planning Commission and the City Council, these changes likely would not have been made.
As Ms. Kibby asks for an extension, we are hopeful that she will follow through on her commitment to change
the windows at Center Court as one concession to us for the development. As you know, Center Court will be
impacted on two sides by the hotel construction for at least 15 months. Further, we will be impacted by the
operations of a hotel with a ballroom, meeting rooms, and increased traffic adjacent to the already bustling
convention center. Yes,this will have an impact on the quality of life of our residents, as well as those in the
surrounding complexes. However, as we share a property line with these parcels, we will feel the greatest
impacts of construction and operations well into the future -- basically forever.
Further, the Center Court HOA is disappointed that we have had no proactive communications from Ms. Kibby
while there were changes to the plan, and postponements of this project this year. This seems to be the same
pattern we have seen over the past three years since learning this project was moving forward through the city
process.
On 9/16/14, we sent an email to Ms. Kibby asking for confirmation of our primary concession of window
replacements. Although it has been only one day, we have not received a reply. As you know, interaction and
communications with the neighborhood, and particularly those primarily impacted, is a necessity. If the
developer states they want to be a good neighbor, this is not the way to demonstrate it. If this is a pattern, this
may also be the same treatment we will receive when having inquiries with issues of operation.
The Center Court HOA would like the City Council to make their decision with as much input as possible, and
as this item will be considered in closed session with no public comment, we feel this is the appropriate method
for us to state our position.
Thank you, and if you should have any questions, please let either of us know.
Center Court Club Homeowner Association �—
Aamer Mumtaz, President
David Powell, Vice Presidentap y