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3/2/2005 - STAFF REPORTS (3)
Dana Stewart&James McKinley of Palm Springs 3-02-05 Council, except Ms. Coat; Citizens, Setting the Record Straight 1. "The people never came to us." Here are some of our files, from just the past year. Not one letter has come back to us on our challenges to the Mitigation Reports. Not one concern or question answered. The PC and CC have ignored everyone. They have engaged in secretive and obstructionist agendas. We have given our business cards to land-owners and developers. Not one phone call or meeting. 2. "The town will die unless these projects go forward." The town has already been strangled because of that Mills-stone around the necks of local businesses, "The Deserted Cashion plaza". No one can compete with this Skid Row eyesore for seven years. Palm Hills' and Wessman's promises of revenue are bogus. You'll never see it because the costs are too high. Its a bad deal to trade our Billions in tourism dollars for some mirage of millions to the developers, 74%, and to the city, a paltry 26%. 3. "This is a bad law." Definitely a bad law for mass-developers. Gutting the General Plan for Palm Hills, Boulders and Crescendo, were bad laws. Down-zoning is not property-taking, and particular, eco-friendly projects can indeed be voted upon.We were stymied as to why the Tram-Sham came about, until we found out that Mr.Wessman, and a couple of his cohorts, are on the Tram Way Board. What a coinkydinki Calling all lawyers, isn't this a "Conflict of Interest"? 4. "Palm Hills is an environmentally-friendly and sustainable development." Having been in eco-development for over a decade and a half, this may qualify as an outright lie.We speak to International symposiums on sustainable development. Where are the solar and clean energy elements?We all remember the energy rates tripling a few years ago. What about the destabilization of the land, of all three projects? Repeating the bad ideas of the past, they have no concept of new eco-development. 5. "Boulders and Crescendo don't legally need an EIR." The Planning and Council members, and the developers,were conspicuous by their absence, at the forum on the fungus among us. Coccidiodomycosis has taken the life our friend.We represent all those shut-ins that have been shut out_ Many are prepared to sue over this blatant disregard for the health, lives and property of the people that live here.Where is that Protect and Serve ethic for the people? Where are our property rights? In the vote. YES on B. Nothing but the B-B-B-Best for Palm Springs.And a BIG NO on C". Cola z/26v-/,- Fuzzy Economics are Taxing Recent surveys of Palm Springs residents by the city asked if we might be willing to pay taxes on water or utilities to support emergency services. Are they out of their tiny little minds?!We're supposed to pay to provide services for future residents of massive developments that we are told cannot be provided to current residents right now! How about concentrating on revitalizing Palm Canyon from north to south and attracting celebrities, conventioneers and tourists? A$100.00 a day hotel room generates more annual revenue than a $1,000,000.00 house. If we are in a financial bind, it is because of the mismanagement of our greatest assets, and perverse, reversed priorities. The convention center has been the biggest loser and the city wants to sell our water treatment facility to pay for it! We residents have paid for years and years to own this asset. We own it and the city has tried to sell our property without our permission. Meanwhile, our water is being sucked up by Nestle-Arrowhead Water and criminally irresponsible planning and lack of environmental oversight. Over 75% of our revenue comes from tourism and we spend less than 4% of our budget on promoting the Palm Springs "brand" which could be such a boon to our struggling local businesses. To add injury to insult, rampant, unchecked development activities threaten our health with air, traffic, noise and light pollution, our businesses, our water resources, our natural flood channels, our endangered species, and ecosystem habitats. We are now the endangered species. You are tripping over really big dollars for pennies and permanent Impoverishment. We are not willing to be taxed for your failed economic vision and lack of responsible management. Turning a Silk purse into a Sow's Ear -or- How to turn Monumental Treasure into Monumental Trash We are adjacent to the Tram and at the gateway to Palm Springs, which sees the Mountain Gate project's ugly sprawl marching inexorably towards the mountains. Doug Evans has recommended its expansion and the approvals of four other tract-crap developments. Imagine the beauty obliterated by barrier walls and masses of garish ticky-tacky rooftops. What an ugly view to be despised by visitors on their way up the tram (and worse, on the way down!). How will they know they've traveled to a rare spot of unspoi9ed nature, once it's been spoiled? The violations of current water density, and environmental protections laws, the Brown Act, or conflicts of interests, must be thoroughly understood as to their impact upon this community, neighboring towns, and our main revenue-generator, health and nature-loving tourism. Ah, The golden goose. It's what's for dinner! And by the way, got any water to wash it down? The Desert Water Agency needs to weigh in on each of these disasters by design. The Palm Hills development threatens to double demand and ruin habitat, while water availability and quality is in decline. My right to make comment on this development at the public hearing was omitted even though I had sent up a card. At midnight, I had missed my dinner, my bedtime, and my rights. I was hopping mad! We commend Ginny Foat and David Ready for working with the concerned citizens. We question others'efforts at due diligence. There have been EPA drought and water alerts that are ignored, and the public kept ignorant. Not many know of the theft of our water by Nestle-Perrier-Arrowhead. No time is allotted to study the physical and fiscal impacts. There are significant challenges to the criteria and results of cursory EIR's that have gone unanswered. I have still not been contacted regarding water supply assurance, water treatment, and revenue going to Riverside County instead of Palm Springs, and on the sales of our public assets. All these issues must be addressed and made available for public scrutiny-not just public comment. Absolutely NO development must be given approval until these questions are investigated and answered. A moratorium is in order and so is legal action. Council members and staff are not personally exempt. They are not shielded from violations of the law. We expect to enlist the finest legal minds in this arena if approvals are given before citizens can vote on major developments, health and safety hazards, and water laws enforcement. Numerous groups like Mod Com, environmental scientists, and neighborhoods are coalescing behind stopping these developments. Opponents to Palm Hills, The Boulders in Little Tuscany, the Crescendo and Mountain Gate in the Chino Canyon neighborhoods, Section 14, Little Araby, the image-destroying Wal-Mart, and on and on and on. You are seeing the weight of a critical mass of this city ready to fight your RECKLESS approval decisions. Are lunatics in charge of the asylum? Initial investigations may even lead to seriously considering a Grand Jury investigation involving the State Attorney General on the water issues. We expect to keep the city attorney very busy. E L E B R A T 1 0 N 0 F B E A U T Y AND H IS T 0 R Y IN THE S A N T A R 10 S A A N D 8 A N J A C I N T 0 M 0 U N T A I N S N A T 1 0 N A L M 0 N U M E N T 7.1 .ice .J-11- Oil wwy 44 PIN 14� ji 34n. 3�'� CITY OF PALM SPRINGS f PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION eld"40( se WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 03,2003 AT 2:00 P.M. d" CITY HALL, 3200 E. TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA AGENDA CALL TO ORDER—2:00 P.M. REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA—Available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (West side of Council Chamber) and the Planning &Zoning Department counter by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, August 29, 2003. It is the intention of the City of palm Springs to -mpfy or a participant-at Geis meeting, you wtii need- with the Americans with Disabilities Act in all respects. If,as an attendee or assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact Phil Kaplan,7601323-8219 at least 4a hours prior to the meeti is 76at864-9527. ng to inform us of Your Particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible. Please advise us at that time if You wilt need accommodations to attend or participate in meetings on a regular basis_ The telephone number for the hearing impaired(rDD#) 1• PUBLIC COMMENTS—Three minute time limit. 2. DISCUSSION—Application bythe Wessman Development Company forTentative Tract Map 31095, for the Stoneridge project, the subdivision of 31.34 acres into 54 residential lots and a number of letter lots for street and retention purposes,for future development of a single family neighborhood, located at the north west comer of Via Escuela and Leonard Road, Zone R-1 A, Section 3. 3. DISCUSSION—Preapplication by Nexus Residential Communities, Inc.for a Planned Development District to include the construction of 133 multi-family dwelling units and 19 single-family dwelling units at 1000 East Palm Canyon Drive, Zone R-2, R-3, and O, Section 23. 4. DISCUSSION — Case 5.0968 —Application by the City of Palm Springs for Zoning Ordinance Amendments to allow second family unit applications ministerially without discretionary review in accordance with Government Code Section 65852.2 (AB1866-ministerial action), City wide in the R-G-5, R-1, R-G-A, and R-2 Zones. Continued from the meeting of August 27, 2003. 5. CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS— Update. 6• COMMISSION/STAFF REPORTS/REQUESTS— General Plan Update Added Starters—Action is required to determine eligibility for consideration of Added Starters. P6SiAGg w City of Palm Springs p.f 1 Y P " Department of Planning and Zoning ( ty AGG29'03 '0 �l ¢' '' I - aC1.jfi l I P.O.Box 2743 -- w Palm Springs,California 92263-2743 CA H METER 710o38 Dana L. Stewart and James McKinley 2280 N. Girasol Avenue Palm Springs, CA 92262 8 #s *ra 22 PUBLIC HEARINGS: 9. SEWER SERVICE CHARGES—FISCAL YEAR 2004-05 Recommendation: That the Council approve placement of sewer service charges for fiscal year ending June 30, 2005 to be collected on the Riverside County property tax rolls. mM ° o d � a g �° CD m9a rc v c <D On o tumm 7 y t11 Y/ z3 s H �-m pCp y 0O' a) Memorandum of Director of Finance &Treasurer m Z � �- m xm o o m� �'� w = yA Sx 'w } ap m �m � � �+ o m ?oo b Hearing Qc i;. o v y o O y m S— ao o n Do � aoc mz °' gym c) If desired, Res as recommended. M _ ° B I �D z ° n o «3a go Fz� Ym Fy m3 0 � g.o � �' �� o 10 AGREEMENT PD 258, TTM 29100, TPM 29101, PALM HILLS DEVELOPMENT Za { m m g g D m 0 0 o Mo a 0 Q few- 30a'm We wZ .+ Recommendation: That the Council approve Case 5.0826, Planned = a n `o, d � s z r- o N t Development District 258, Tentative Master Parcel Map 29101, Tentative Tract n m $ 0 o< fD ° m 0 h a Map 29100, Palm Hills Specific Plan, General Plan Text Amendments; certify the { y m m 3 0 s a . Final Environmental Impact Report for 1,204 acres located in the foothills of the > (A � X•a; 2 m m o m z o m @m ., rT .mo. Santa Rosa Mountains, south of East Palm Canyon Drive, north of Murray Hill. ° o O �, N d ':'o g Z ; 6 a Zone U-R, Section 31 and 32, T4S, R5E, SBBM. Applicant: Palm Hills Land Z ° p <' ; " rin a 9M N Corporation. 1601 Notices Mailed. A r o C _ m __6 rt Z 0 y < 2 m N 7 3,j 0 ~ry a) Memorandum of Director of Planning &Zoning D F 0 -� iv a D rz y oz b) Hearing < '0 o v o o _ C D = ; a m 7 Q m C m ti P v ° A �c < p3 mpg , c) If desired, Res as recommended. (EIR) Z W o ; --Im v m 0 0 _ a S 0. m ,y.�0 0 < d) If desired, Res as recommended. (GPA) o x B 5 9 D y C o Ro N 3 e} If desired, Res as recommended. (SP) ` ` ° <" ° f) If desired, Res as recommended. (PDD) g) If desired, Ord for intro &first reading. (Zoning) h} If desired, Ord for intro &first reading. (Dev Agr) i Besieged on Every Side Palm Springs is a great place for development these days but it is not so good for the residents who see their quality of life diminishing by the day. The parade for development at any cost is led by the mayor, Ron Oden, who admitted at his inauguration ceremony that his mentor was Tom Suitt, a local land speculator. Consequently, no project, regardless of how much its impact, is ever turned down (let alone even slightly modified). There is Section 14, the Wal-Mart Super Center or Palm Springs Village, the 2 square mile, 1200-home major tract project or Mountain Gate, La Palapas and Little Araby. The Crescendo and Boulders projects in the Tram, Little Tuscany and Chino Canyon threaten open access areas enjoyed by so many. They want to destroy, even further, the grand entrance to Palm Springs. On the lovely long drive into town, we now have the debacle of"The Cove". They don't call it "Windy Point" for nothin', ya' know! Sand and oodles of water to keep down the dust bowl that they've created, now make the happy, hopeful tourists annoyed with their filthy greeting. What was once a pleasant view of this canyon has now been totally obliderated by an unnatural, out-of-place freeway wall. Our beautiful entry into our village has now been marred by high-density tract crap. What a lovely view for tourists to admire, and for residents to be proud of...the urban sprawl they are escaping from! Yipee! And they even want to add more of the same there, as well as completely ruin the beautiful drive to the Tram and back. The disturbing view of walls and rooftops will be all they see if this ugly Mountain Gate is expanded and the Boulders and Crescendo projects go forward. This land is adjacent to a National Monument, and is called a "Monumental Treasure". These critical environments need to be protected, not plundered for the profit of a few at the expense of everyone else. Meanwhile, the Palm Hills development would be destroying even more massive habitats, beauty and recreation areas to the south. We thought we were changing the course of the previous rubber-stamp City Council. Ron is certainly letting down his people. We wish he had told us before the election, so that we could have voted accordingly! Why not follow the examples of Carmel, Santa Barbara, for Vale and Aspen, Colorado? Palm Springs is still a celebrity hideout that is under siege instead of being upgraded. Rest assured, we will fight tooth and nail to save our precious heritage. The legal deliberations are ramping up, and citizens are at their battle stations. �.�,' ,� '��y IU' ,:.:' i,a`�, , i ,. �. .. � � ♦�� � •_�' i � � ��.�, �, �� ' .> •v. .:. ,. . .;,. :..�, .., . . . : . : . . . . . . _ . : . HERE we're not going to tell you where to look. Remember,this is a DIY deal. "These mountains aren't well-known to the botanical world,"says Kathryn Kramer,a botanist for the San Bernardino National Forest. "We just haven't had that many peo- ple out poking around.There are still a few 1" [j unknown species lurking out there, especially �_l ow that you've got your bearings,you in the remote canyons." can get out there and discover something. it "This is a very important place brologi- hasn't all been done for you. catty,"adds Al Muth, director of the Deep This monument presents a dream Canyon Desert Research Center.The opportunity for anyone with an appetite for monument is part of the peninsular Ranges adventure.You have an impressive chunk of Province,a series ofmountain ranges begin- protected land,but minus the snack shops, ning at die southern tip of the Baja peninsula kiosks,and crowds that clutter many of our and winding up here it Mount San Jacinto. nation's parks.The Santa Rosa and San The linked ranges provide a highway for Jacinto Mountains National Monument is a species,and the rapid elevation shifts also great,raw work-in-progress. make for an array of life zones, from Sonoran And for now it's largely a DIY(do-it- Desert to Arctic Alpine. yourself)monument.Be your own naturalist. All this diversity means the Santa Rosa Be your own botanist.Be your own explorer. and San Jacinto mountains are a good habitat 774 _ ;" ,, Still in its infancy, the monument is for scientists as well as salamanders. On your somewhat inaccessible, except to hearty rambles,you might run into a researcher hikers. In fact, there is only one major herding speckled and red rattlesnakes, or ;$, paved road through the mountains studying hybridization in Gambcl's quad. + • „ .r:r ",: (Highway 74, the Palms-to-Pines Or you might spot a collared bighorn Highway).For now,the thoroughfares really sheep.Big,handsome and endangered, the consist of trails. There's a snippet of the Peninsular Ranges bighern sheep is the - Pacific Crest Trail,along with a bodge- celebrity species of the monument. More podge of old Indian paths and hone trails than that, they are a benchmark of the `"t "'' laboriously hacked out of granite mountain- health of the mountains. "They're e t good sides by the circa 1930s riding club The indicator of wilderness and a good indicator Desert Riders. of environmental problems,"says Jun Ddaolgc, Because so much of the monument is executive director of the Bighorn Ins[imte. hard to access,you can still feel like a pioneer You've likely heard more about the '1 naturalist. For example,says BLM geologist bighom than other monument spc,ics Steve Kupfernian,you can venture out and because they're at the center of disputes over investigate the Martinez Mountain Rock nail use.Specifically,should hikers be Avalanche.Not many visitors have glimpsed allowed on trails in bighorn habitat during typo- this mammoth and remote slide,the second lambing season?A final nails plan is,still being t E - largest of its kind in the United States.The worked out,but whatever the ootcomc, there slide was created between 10,000 and 20,000 are likely to be more skit niishcs.hhc d. _ - I years ago,when avalanches roared out of the It's inevitable,because the monument is mountains and blocks the size of small can so close to huge urban populations The i were tossed a mile into the desert. manager undoubtedly will spend endless ve:. Another area ripe for discovery:plants hours figlu-ing out how to keep hunhao user and animals.The area is recognized globally as happy while protecting plants,aninhals and a hotpot ofbiodiversity.WI-Ale out bagging other resources. peaks,Jeff Morgan has come upon cougars a As you become fuuiliar with the sheep half dozen times,as well as bighorn sheep, 10 and ferns,a crowning piece of the monument different kinds of snakes and perhaps 100 remains:an unusually rich human history It's varieties of birds. been said the central question in gating to Buford Crites has discovered firms and orchids tucked away in canyons.There's a rare bluecurl flower in the high country— the only place it exist in the world.But Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Nall k I. f 3 I "There are die stories of folks brrildin the tram and the folks up in Idyllwild who ' didn't want it to happen.There's Peg Leg _ Smith and the lost gold mate down at die E]t^JAHnS GURi15/GOURTeSY AQUA GALI�,E southern end of the Santa Rosas.Or rustlers cur_iva rausEum running cattle into Hotsethief Creek.Or ,rk 'k:• `� •., + Patton and his soldiers camping on[what is nowt El Pasco.There's the incredible story of r G It - know i place is, "What happened here?" building Highway 74,a remarkable masterpiece fi' '{ When you ask that question about the Santa of engineering. Rosa and San Jacinto mountains,the answer "The fast expedition in California,the b Yu _ 46 is, "Quite a lot" A=expedition,came right over the mountain Cahuilla Indians lived in the canyons here in 1774,"adds Crites."This is the same for thousands of years, traveling deeply tune Americans were ringing bells in Boston "V, , worn paths to the higlher country to gather and here they were coming over the Salton __ `"`i '}µ,I,,r rK pinyon nuts,atoms, agave,yucca fibers,and Sink and through the Middle lXTillows." The LT:me. If the moderns sometimes Iook at the Anna route is visible from the monument,it mountains as one-dimensional backdrops to the crest of Coyote Canyon. our patio parties, die Cahuilla didn't need An article litre this can only hold a - 3D glasses to see a richer land. fraction of the stories and riches of the Peaks and boulders were not mere lumps monument.And even if we had a hundred to them,but beings transformed into natural pages,there is plenty about these mountains forms.Rocks and even hot springs had we don't know and perhaps will never power and individuality,according to know. anthropologist Lowell Bean.So as you're "The creation of the National Monument is sightseeing in the monument,keep in mind a commitment lion roday's cormtunity to -� is z that any arresting outcrop or turret might future generations that a place for solitude have an tdarrity-and a name. Brill remain within the Southern California 1 The sense that people lived here before landscape,"Danella George says. and invested the land with meaning is palpable For Crites,a goal of the new mommrient to BLM archeologist Wanda Raschkow. is keeping it that way.This should always be r /� "You can bz standing on this knot in the a place where discovery is possible. "There -r;,F.r_ middle of nowhere that took you all day to always should be hidden places that aren't on get to,"she says. "And you've climbed a cliff maps,"Crites says. and slid down the other side and run into 20 At the end of his journey,J.Smeaton ' cholla cactus,and you can't imagine another Chase came to a similar conclusion.The - human being has ever been here.And you riddles and mysteries give the desert look down and find a grinding stick. mountains their enduring appeal.He wrote: r "This is really challenging terrain,"she "The secret is...secrecy." adds, "and yet everywhere you go you find indications this land has been in use for thou sands of years."To get a glimpse of what /�-,• Raschkow is talking about,hike four miles uP the Palm Canyon Trail fi-om the Tradirr Y g Post. Where you cross the creek, there are deep bedrock mortars right there on the trail But the human history of the mono- a_�4 rent isn't limited to the Cahuilla. "There are lots of stories,"says mountain wanderer Crites. "Thew COUmESY AQUA CAtIENPE aCC the remains of whole CULTURAL MUSEUM stanhp mills where gold was processed out of s these hills and evidence of cattle ranching and brush corrals. 'a 14NM Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument AT THE. SANTA ROSA & SAN JACiNTO MOUN��BE����° NATIONAL M( NU-MENT? s 2 pm iftfeekendis at the 111siter Center daD9 s v. No reserelal°sens necessary A'AL ,t��NA)'��� `�II��rp��g=—�_�r�� y^y�gg� p�p� /��p�p` p� JOi l,r/L�s�YEa7i�E iALLY'fLllISTOLi-AhNi✓iORL-,4lgCitrl A�l�i��� Whatmakes a great wildflowerdisplayand whyaregreat floweryears so lore? *WILDFLOWER Every Saturday Leamwhyatthe Santa Rosa andSanJacinto Mountains National Monument PROGRAM and Sunday NsftorCenter, 51-500flighway74, Palm Desert, Weal-good wallringshoesand in March sunprotection. Ca11862-9984formoreinformation. Learn how butterflies are effected by ecological and environmental changes Free Lecture Monday, March 8 resuftingfiomfire. 6iologistMicheallfleintalksaboutthisattheCommunh)l BUPIfERFLIES 6:30_8 prn Room, Palm Desert Library, 73-30OFredWenrgRdin Palm DeserL Formore AND FIRE information ca11341-9312. Discover the amazingstrategies desert wildflowers use to ensure pollination. FREE Wednesday, March 10 Findoutthebestplacesto see 'MotherNature's" colorful Shows. 3ureauof WILDFLOWER 1:30 prn Land Management Office, 690W.. Garnet, North Palm Springs(located west of WORKSHOP the PilotgasstationatlndianAvenueandl-lighwayl0). Ca11251-4800for _ information. Get a close up look at the colorful spiingNowers painting the desert. Free Program Monday, March15 Piesentedby the Palm Spdngs Desert Museum, at the CommunityRoom, DESERT 6:30-8 prn Palm Desert Library, 73-30OFredWaringRdin Palm Deseit. Formore WILDFLOWERS information ca11341-9312. Leam why these night flyers are so important to our ecology. Presented by O'AT : ISM Monday, March 22 FrancieSpears, Coachella Valley's beloved.GatLady. Free, at the Community AND PF AUfY 6:30-8 prn Room,Palm Desert Library, 73-300Fred kPadngRdfnPahnDeseit Formore _ information call341-.9312. SrG'�DO�a'1i1F°�v�'aa`i/7,�:i�S:�47b'�`6�i(�ll�'('iQr�l`rT.�y �ddC'J�ldg�Jd`u��u'7c�1dd�c�,d'i.�u"�9?J�Y�'k�®NJ'OB1r�963ud�9�iYG�u'➢�v✓�d'E/l!�O✓&170da�6'dir l P °9 . R��l�fER51e�d9�975 IYV E,i9 �A6�1��� �9 ��s�Dl� �1�� a� 6vc r,✓W; � cry d"�� %rv✓� �,���`�;����`►�al� �`��k�`����'€;;rt�� F�`�1��° ti�1�`c"3:� ��ii`u is Q Y�z:ZIL- F CL-' Lz 2,,C' A11 oQIII C_)Y12I L - Bumildning the hmills Organization forms to prevent future development i,, in area leading up to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway By Steve Brown ount San Jacinto and the surround- ing mountains rise up from the jt desert floor g rovidin a grand P backdrop to the city of Palm Springs. 7 - <r,i Tourists stop to view the mountain back- drop and the incongruityof seeing coot P snow-c below.aButrvtllktheon the stllhomeot sertawaoor as iif� "ts I�1 awestruck when the canyon floor leading up Y �y�� r F {Tl1Xhr to the base of the Palm Springs Aerial t F r Tramway is filled with residential and com- mercial developments? That's the concern of the Palm Springs -U.�, Mountains Conservancy,a recently formed a i t " @ WbiEE1, �M ttl i:� : $�^$Islt�'i l •� �� organization that is backing the Palm Springs Mountain Preservation Initiative,a U'"'' measure that could go on the ballot next Residential and commercial developments are proposed for much of the canyon floor March to restrict hillside development, leading up to the base of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. While homes could be built in areas such as borhood,Boulders and Crescendo,her con- Day said Palm Springs city government is Chino Canyon,large-scale developments tern is citywide. She would like to see these "wired for development."And he noted,that would be prohibited,unless previously ap- projects considered by Palm Springs city residential growth does not pay for itself with proved by city government. government after summer is over and more tax funds,but taxes city services instead. "The focus right now for us is protecting residents are at home to participate in the "With over 300 planned development and preserving the foothills surrounding hearings process. districts and thousands of new residents, to Palm Springs and changing the general plan," "We understand why developers and the cut back services is not the solution,"he said j said Mallika Albert, co-chair of the Chino city choose to act at this particular time," about city fiscal woes. Canyon Neighborhoods Organization and a she said, noting many residents are gone for Former Palm Springs City Councilmem- spokesperson for the conservancy. "We want part or all of the summer. "But we'd like her Jim Jones is active in supporting the the voters to have the opportunity to decide them to wait.What's the big rush?" Mountain Preservation Initiative. He noted what they want the city to look like.We know City Councilmember Mike McCulloch that the initiative will not affect previously what we're up against. This is a grass-roots said he doesn't see any evidence that projects approved projects and that it is not focused organization.We're aware of what,can hap- like Pahn Hills,due for a hearing July 7,are on one project or developer. pen when people speak in one voice." purposefully delayed. "The only one I really know about is Albert said the initiative movement gains "Everything we do is controversial and Palm Hills," Jones said. "That was going on supporters every day and noted that while our calendar is very full," McCulloch said. when I was on the council." two residential projects by John Wessman's "Many more public hearings [are] all lined Jones said the current general plan for development firm are planned for her neigh- up and waiting to get through the planning Palm Springs would not allow the Palm Hills commission or on our calendar. I don't project to be built as designed.With zoning think projects are delayed intentionally. handled through the initiative process,he There is just a huge backlog." added,city government would not be able to Greg Day,a Chino Canyon area resident, alter the general plan at will. Rather, it notes developers use planned development would take a majority vote of the city's vot- wp.Yi districts to circumvent city zoning require- ers to enact any changes. r: meats. He says this leads to higher density "Palm Springs is a very large city, I think projects that are less environmentally and 94 square miles,"Jones said."What we're do- "' .a aesthetically sensitive to their surroundings. ing is preserving the open space bordering "They negotiate the whole district," Day the city from tract homes and commercial noted. "There's kind of a feeding frenzy of development.We tried to write it [the initia- x S� developers. In Ventura County, zoning is tivel going by what other cities have done .}+" one home per 90 acres on hillsides." and we took the middle path when you look 5 Day,co-chair for the CCNO,and Albert, at other ordinances that go from 20 acres to emphasized they are not anti-development. 640 acres.Planned development districts will r` x Albert is president of her own real estate in not be allowed.That's a way that's been used vestment firm.They worry,instead,that mas- as a way around not having to abide by nor- aq sive high-density residential and commercial real codes.It's used to condense housing." development on the hillsides of Palm Springs The reason for higher density develop- ,, 1 g will be detrimental to the resort atmosphere ment is simple, Jones said — it's highly dy that makes the city attractive to tourists. profitable for the developer. "What does make money in Palm Springs "Greed is a hell of a motivator,"he com- ;.,s is tourism," Day said. "If we don't watch it, mented. "You can quote me on that." t ,m we'll damage our tourism industry...We +gip need to be wise and thoughtful. Do people Comments? Drop news editor Steve Brown Former Palm Springs City Councilman Jim want to drive through housing projects to an e-mail at Jones is involved with the initiative. take the Tram?" steve.brown@desertpostweekly.com ltff� g,g.,.,I�',, t,'. ,MR p,- - 'L . '., AIILL,o kv,f A,-; 9 l W t"'! .4AJV�W'i 'g NR . �W%V�, g......... ILL R�Z vt 1 19 it imp;"I 't X 't . .................. It t4 0!, • V :.t Y A R I A N RL Tfar he tap water was so dark in Atlanta some pearance),but no one sees this as.a long-term so ii - days this summer that Meg Evans lution.America's aging water infrastructure needs couldn't see the bottom of the tub when huge new investment,and soon. she filled the bath. Elsewhere in her Decayed pipes alone would,be a serious chal- neighborhood, Gregg Goldenberg puts his lenge.Now,add these:Providing water free of dis- infant daughter, Kasey, to bed unbathed rather ease and toxins is ever more difficult,as old meth- than lower her into a brew"the color of iced tea." ods prove inadequate and new hazards emerge. Tom Crowley is gratified that the Publix super- Shortages have become endemic to many regions, market seems to be keeping extra bottled water on as record drought and population sprawl sap rivers hand;his housekeeper frequently leaves notes say- and aquifers.Then there's the threat,unthinkable ing, "D on't drink froin the faucet today."All try to a year ago,that now seems to trump all others:ter- keep tuned to local radio,TV,or the neighborhood rorism.Put it all together, and it's easy to see why Web site to catch"boil water" advisories, four of concern over clean drialdng water might someday which have been issued in the city since May to make the energy crisis look like small potatoes. protect against pathogens. "We've gotten to the "The idea of water as an economic and social point where Fin thinking this is just normal," good, and who controls this water,and whether it Evans says."It's normal to wake Lip and takes bath is clean enough to drink, are going to be major is- in dirty water." sites in the country,"says economist Gary Wolff, In a nationwhere abundant, clear, and cheap at Oakland's Pacific Institute for Studies in Devel- drinking water has been t'aken for granted for gen- opment,Environment,and Security.In March,En- erations,it is hard to imagine residents of a major vironmental Protection Agency Administrator city adjusting to life without it.But Atlanta's water Christie Whitman called water quantity and claal- woes won't seem so unusual in the years ahead. i Ly"the,biggest environmental issuethat we face in Across the countiy,long-neglected mains and pipes,, the 21st century." ers, Z 11�, ro C EL I11AG... acteria ano9toel-, .11-r1. eries,, 'at;,L ...R ........................... ............. ,,P� ", "i., ... .. ......... i`i "yys f9'i - w,"'M7'kllair.i, "r;I,,.,,.Y 'c",,x:J4y' lu"i-ti'3%"7:,vd, f .I v'7,9elkw+INa+r,r;;Sl„Ir yr"yy ,ivr rq, 'r'ea,, n a"rl;lylvrtr .su a .n_1,t1 r.h!'J ' �j J��pp,,PJ1��1yy��1� �Fxy ;�� I�'t'�ri,F�Fii`�i� .li �Y 4e,.,,.iYJ� ��;'y rit '-Y���(t�d�y�r1"'�rd���57,�Jir-�l p:v' p�°pc'�Er rb� ?�•Y�u!7�C.i I�;fPi r��'Tr iSr�Jt?t' �Y:4trytt fY�g�r�'„Gt� +U'il°Ili 1w� iy, fa",i > "� +f�:,('4 v�,il1\ 1 �EJ,1 IJl lltl,��Q'.: � IIJ�,Rr>r 1 a �� F G ""`I�'''"T'�'I'' Al � Yr'• 1., }I i�„Y4"r�y,�.d* N",al.'rPj(�+fd'�L hMu� I ,� '�!�( I a. n I gf [ I RI Iu7) I �_ 11 r��"ldl"" II Ir" 'I�A'�Cl'rv,'�nr ('i.,� X �I�I �+,•T,cy, l�Jr,�'r';�I '-' P`� �w?''�'pr'S��iWi.t�' n ,'t-�5 i't, JrTryi' 4 l',l �'i 4iiw Y 71 Id�P ., I*: �, lyiwxs� ° ' rd}k+A1N,J`Y��t4rjr;�Y11•. �.,r�y 1[I �ria�Nf l"��.�pi k��ddr`7�;�N ',� F�uQ�'�5 i.l Fl���rv7p,�y{�,IIY'��FJ iVi�;�.r��h+fll+h17vv�k�lir ?.i i�y�l�r h. >; t I^, IP I,1 ) '�71f art"�4a,aSi.,�' r'1 v.N•.}) �� 4a'j.�IIF Ail �lr��o `<+[���J ty ,ICJ t��' �" y`�I l,�d.�il I I 1 h'� V 4 11 k I r ,'Ck.,"Y,k k+}iu, .ix1 .J-u'�NI` lu 14n ti Ini, fxli� at.yttlti + lul �j I d '�!int`,R14 b r k�'Lw.l>1N k 9n+'n dtr�i llk�+y.�J'v»? l r v Yn6`T ��y���((��I r 13'I irr'' -� TIo Llur�.FF M y A I I I fI '{ � �''��Nf IrP'•���f�r'71' M� � "I'�'� lr�.y1C}a>I'ilr �rl k ti I _a• I' p .)� tl 1 i I _ �vrt/'II:Y\y� ��,u:Ai r'o r• +' il' I 1 V 4tl I r r t rah eT fl a7 n., i sd` ' t'Iry ;._.. y l,. .!`.fit=k'+ Iv t o tv N ' itl M13dytJ,'11 }p ,;r+i'�^,1if� M"�utiu!11 l w+v'� t r, v F II r, t Ix4 tj_�_ i1 y� prpu4,i i, 3 f it J I�rr;n i r� F, "ti is 36y111�7' I �rl�pCl'd.r S.:rP ``,1d{I ' 'f i"u1Mk�11y'"r'tt ally V '� vdl r'.'�1`,NANt JI>rvkl�.,�}ryJj"siMy`ail lei XS' ri'L"PPL,cr. r�^ ft tl t.� �,ri,Ik ,�; mtA I`S�R�+�y {� Yh'1.'y�''�r t YSn �aF �4 �'A :rJ el� . �>i r�tt\79i� FI +.¢ Il tr•I ? 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"I " C L81 QRN . rrl -�'- b d Y,-,t'.ktY:.rt r ><•,Iarx 0110 blr epu(ti' oe �' � ey-i t t�F 41f x [r v' ll r4�lya d� i�'<R>`�sUi C ltt�J'("rw t�T".`it7'i�f P43r•��tha�o7�eflL°'d'a Oe' e Paul Stntwr,a forme,nvo-rernm U.S. demand of their leadership actions reflect- ,fir I I� .Senatorfiom Illinois,now heads rile ing vision,understanding and courage. Will They Go To War Over Watery ' Public Policy inst-siN we m Southern I[is no exaggeration to say that the Twenty-two countrieaaroundtile world are dependent on,the flow. Illinois University,where he continues' conflict between humanity's growing of"µ%ater Tnam other natiq"1",1-11 1f-$fiei°r'su I';,a le enden-. to devote himself to issues of v' c I pP Y P f ual thirst and the projected supply of us- Y which can lead',to friction,escalating terisfons or worse An png' importance to umtr mmrimt and the able,potable water could result in the the areas with the potential for,, conflict over'water are world.The fallowing article—adgpred most devastating natural disaster since India;Pakistan and Bangladesh--klr;eady these natlons Tace Ienst - nsi fram his new Gook, "Tapped Out,"to history has been recorded accurately, over nuclear+explosions and other matters:"AddLt-he volatile factor of be published next month Gy IVelcome unless something happens to stop it. how to share viater When undergrptind sources'are tllmipisliing m all; Rain Publishers— P three nafions,and ybu have the potential for nuclear.conflict alerts us to an i.vsue The world'- popula- thatcmddhave.venousimplications tion of 5.9 billion will ,a 8'r ? The lNiddle East—King Hus-' at home and elsewhere:die coming double in the next 50 to 7 �- I of dqi in says water is the- worldwide water shortage. 90 ears,depending on .-1 " �'t$ III , t one,tssue that could drive, y p g -�S*$ It .w m A ", .. r^ -:11the natlons of this region tii whose estimates you ac- -� 1,.rr_ 5 r ry - - p" ,Their-,,,shared and' e Y THE GIFT OF WATER cep[.Out renewable wa- remotE , - 'U - shrmkmg water supply will; You nourish and sustain ter supply, however, is ' a�I`a { 4 `t"' lead to greater coppenationi us and all living things: constant Compounding L v±r '� , n or to war Israel s Prtfrte Min " These are the words used those grim realities is s n I w u Ister, 'Netanyahu.observes in the baptismal rite in Lu- the fact that per capita - .!Israe :headed.toward',a'1 p p '"'+%-J� "tiiess,"in+.JR. em,'Or Worse:irri theran services.But moat water consumption is "'-" - world,increasing numbers rising twice as fast as '�' - Egypt-lt'S aliriost_tofaIV, of people cannot assume they will he the world's population. ! ly iiependenfon tha�Nile,aifd nourished and sustained.Within a few You do not have to be 85%'bf that.river's wa ter•;- comes from-Ethiopia:.What= Yens,a water crisis of catastrophic pro- an Einstein to under- I;aa„ ar._,va _ 'fiapperis when- Ethigpia'sl portions will explode on us—unless stand that we are headed inward t po -will,and Ethiopians demand more!and mo e!w'on,doubles,which it'+ aroused citizens in this and ocher nations tential calamity. ;, China More than 300 large'cities already:face serious water.' shortages.Jt,wlll get much worse How'wtll the world'-largest din B Y P A U L S I M N tatorship responda as CO VER PHOTOGRAPH CY EDDIE ADAMS PAGE 4'AUGUST 23,1911•IMAGE MAGAZINI Wally N'Dow of Gambia,wham the expensive to modify for major con- FLORIDA: Los Angeles Times describes as "the sumption purposes:seawater. Firefighters try world's foremost specialist on cities," • California. Like most of the world, to turn dam"m says bluntly:"In the past 50 years,na- California has water in abundance where Ormond Beach. ared lions have gone to war over oil. In the people are not in abundance. Three- vthlsteimmer— the next 50,we are going to go to war fourths of its snow and rain fall in the the result of a drought and over water.The crisis point is going to northern pan of die state,where one- -,.�. heat wove.. be 15 to 20 years from now." third of the people live. Every official Below:Former Nations fight over oil,but valuable as California water plan projects a huge 'San'Pawl Simon iris,there aresubstmtes foroil.There is Pap between need and supply, ;.,,.,, (o m�r `•'I� no substitute for water.We die quickly Califomia's,population will grow Fw q;rj1 without water, and no nation's leaders from 31 million today to some- would hesitate to battle for adequate we where between 48 million and 60 ter supplies.A decade ago,U.S.intelli- million in less than 40 years. � a,�,-',r's,,;";, --_ "'�, 3`-' - • Bence services identified IO potential Symbolic of California's prob- - �,�, 111 fl is no exaggeration to say that the fashpoints where war could break out ems is the story of Owens Lake. ;r7 v,, over water, I no longer have access to Early in this century,Los Angeles- '"+ conflict between humanity's growing that Type of informadon.since leaving the area water authorities understood thirst and the projected supply of Senate,but I know the number is higher that they'd face problems as the ;• , usable water could result in disaster." today and will be much higher a decade population grew, so they pur- ' From now.At least 400 million people chased the third-largest body of f —Paul Simon live in regions " y s'' with severe wa �t „ � f�[` n,� ter shortages Ail. t!9'kit" . '' .1 -'r'�tl-' at� •ylb't'I rxj�.,i,r"'T tY'`a't ,.v I' ' ' '-�p�' ° h You Can IV17 6g i-A,?0,tie ly fiat oty lYeli d �tiifwllliha ejlpBuJ}icTen wate2 qs mucli$es There are no iiiagtcal'salutlons to our water' By the year 7,a� yod,�fiij be}amixg titth,'reP u a tit nB rrhavi •v"" rt We F shortage ibut.simple undr atio-ste s often 3050,it wtl be '� gip reu +,++a .essrtnapArit7�,r OfGuplc ,�lHfe s sr , + 1 P ha�y�a�t�ahlwe,pel peg� yry}opvsq city(Iessl;hen toO ro is t etieM s s org'geli a cajt make a fiiige�difRerence:in solving dig;pnop- 4 billion r r191J6 si,'fs- x£r t,A et A wu 4:�i,•o 'd ttl lems,Here are some small thins You can do to ut YVD P, rl 3� Iii ✓'D60 0 DDpIr1A D 94 to £ g Y P There are 6=;r � ` - y }� fb, r�` <f ,the focus on water,issuesanyour community; more than o00 "i"iWp �j� ; x 3 .'IIS!rite to your House member and to your river brims m rf Senators urging that greater emphasis and the world that i rr- r +Eav' ,`i a ?t .y'� more appropriations be made fit ;finding less- areshared by at Kt s�r'� a Hy1t}4 a expensive ways'to desalinate seawater, least two coun nl'^s' y + "^'`' xi; Sti'64s x4° th, ' ,r 'Witte aletteoe editor oR your newspa- tries.More than _. h +(' ' ,i za 6 a i /° `" ' Fr' per on water issues •+ n t � ,4� �, •,a#r' (' � '•,Ask your library to havea.tlisplay oR'book Soon ', a dozen nations jr>y, m,{l 'r'Lu' Taf ' ,� + t ;ANbrex"I- e ie]la gr t r„if'd, dr ul n o iant i'f1 isdt d't,'dAirirr ,dr rrN ; , 3` 'i, _ '^tater,'ask lihr,ary oPfmials'to encourage chil- Pet inns[ of - �� -- ---1'l - - dren'to makapostars - ' Ilieir water liom rivers that cross the bor tip"a'rl,it{¢s. s , Tt rll, y r �= 4t z 1 • Suggest that your church synagogue for ders ofneighbaringcounuies which can 2Sd.�'X t rUt`7ar�'r' `'`' �".''' / mosque discussion group focuses oil the wa- {+:G irj 3-k "2 CAM c pry iL ✓✓ ` J c I., be viewed as hostile.Even when nations `+aK;r VPJ, 'J�l �•�y�i(-«*k, ter.issue�at-one of its meetings - are on the best of terms,Like Canada and 'rs}"6 ifv; .t g •Let me know what you are doing I can spread'; "• .:a,y'y''I fir. P4 +Ff ` (. �` , ` a Public. the U.S.,there are serious disc regiments r=y _e -•4* - ,I,!h •the word to'bthers.Write:Paul Simon,', g '"rx,t�-.-.n.^ _teat -r ' - "`^`r 7 s;'tir -P..olic Institute�fle tPP.°'South wrill llinois uhi over water-sharing issues.While we andi, iti ' -r�'v ' 91)� / Y' I P, , '-` +'—. "9,z1 rkr +>r "7, versit Carbondafe,�ill.62901-4429. „ wti shy , ,r Y Y,. our northern neighbor manage ourpeob- ( "• �'- v ^ ✓' r t � lams without resorting to arms,who can Department of Water and Power final- say what will happen in the Middle East, .L Nit - - s't ' ` r TEXAS:Bob ly agreed to begin a project to ensure Where there are no water surpluses and rQ ' , `; Beakley at his that the air around the lake meets federal where the relationships between coun- term near - i r 'w '� • Ennia in duly. health standards by 2006.The lake will tries are stormy. l �'- tfis corn, not be refilled,but 10 square miles may Although water sufficiency q y g y problems � . 'y •"I _ co[to�n crops 6e covered with a few inches of water ' are not nearly as severe in the United were ravaged to hold down the dust,according to a States as in most nations, three of the ° ' r by an extended t ' drought and Las Angeles Times report. fastest-growing states—California, • heat .Florida.In some ways,Florida's prob" Texas and Florida—feel the squeeze on water in the state,Owens Lake.Today dards for air pollution.The Environ- lems are similar to California's:short- water supplies and soon will face major it is called Owens Dry Lake, because mental Protection Agency rates this area ages,despite water at its doorstep(a de- difficulties.As of 1996,five of the 10 L.A. has sucked it dry. But the story the most polluted in the nation for dust salinaton process is in use,but it's in its fastest-growing cities in the U.S.are in does not end there. When the wind Panicles.Peoplein theareawamUs An- infancy);mushrooming population,with those states.It is significant that all three blows on a dry day,particulate matter geles to fill the lake again,but city off- a larger rate of growth than California's states,like many parts of the globe with from rite"lake"is sent into the air to the cials say that would require 10 percent of but a much smaller body of land; and serious shortages,have at their doorsteps point that,in some places,it is 20 times their water,something they cannot afford, problems with drainage and irrigation. huge amounts ofwater that still are too as high as the maximum safety stars- Just last month, the Los Angeles continued PARADE MAGAZINE•AUGUST Ra,19SR ,PAGE 5 NY TIMES - WEDNESDAY, 08-28-02 SAVING WATER, U.S. FARMERS ARE WORRIED THEY'LL GO DRY By DOUGLAS JEHL PETERSBURG, Tex. - Ronnie Hopper grows cotton, and he has learned People have warned of the threat to firsthand that water is precious. the aquifer, which supplies roughly a The water that he pumps from quarter of the United States' underground costs him five times as irrigated farmland, for more than much as it used to, so he does his 20 years, and it is still in danger. best not to waste a drop. But the experience of farmers like Mr. Hopper offers reasons both for He has installed new, high- hope and caution for those efficiency center-pivot sprinklers, struggling to save scarce water designed to eliminate losses to elsewhere, and to arrest drastic evaporation. He has cut back on his declines in other underground planting on his 2,000-acre farm to supplies in places like India and concentrate water on fields that can China. use it best. He is even considering drip irrigation, water by the trickle. Ina shift of much significance, per capita water use — on the rise in Mr. Hopper has reason to be most of the rest of the world — is parsimonious. Though he lives atop now declining in the United States. one of the world's largest aquifers, That retreat has been led by the Ogallala, which spans eight industrial users and farmers like Mr. states, it is falling every day. Here Hopper, who began to save water in dry northwest Texas, the problem through technology and conservation is particularly acute, with declines even before the recent years of of at least three times the average. drought, which this summer will "Putting more wells in this particular affect more than a third of states. � ground would be like putting more Now, however, after years of straws in a glass," Mr. Hopper said, conservation, these users now worry ruddy-faced in the Texas sun. that whatever savings are achieved 1 1. will only be lost to competition from Texas — has slowed to an extent not fast-growing American cities and predicted by any forecasts. It is suburbs. Despite America's overall dropping by just a few inches a year decline in water consumption, these on average, after averaging declines booming population centers are of about two feet a year since making greater demands than ever intensive irrigation began about 60 on limited water supplies, years ago. "We're coming to the reality that Still, it is the outlook beyond their we may not have enough water to fields that makes farmers almost as farm all of this land," Mr. Hopper anxious as the falling water levels said, in fields that stretched toward beneath them. the pancake-flat horizon. "But we don't want anyone coming in and In most of the country, farmers telling us that we don't know how to have primary water rights, ahead of use it best." suburbs and cities. But competition is intensifying. Texas, for instance, By global standards, the United with rapid population growth and States remains one of the world's few restrictions on water use, is most gluttonous water users. But increasing its water consumption Americans' water use declined more faster than any other state. than 20 percent from 1980 to 1995, to about 1,500 gallons of water per By 2050, Texas water planners say person a day from 1,900, according the state's population will leap, to 40 to the most current data from the million people from nearly 21 million United States Geological Survey, in 2000. By the same year, the which says the downward trend board has warned, Texas' supply of appears to be continuing. water, from existing sources, will be 19 percent less than it is today. Today the depletion of the Ogallala — beneath parts of Nebraska, Given that imbalance, the Texas South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, water board said, it would be New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma and unrealistic to think that the Ogallala 2 could be sustained into the pays subsidies to its farmers, yet in indefinite future. The aquifer places like Texas the water- should be treated like a mine, it intensive crop is draining a finite said, and plumbed until it runs out. water supply. But then what? Still, water managers like those in Texas have resisted limiting Doing More With Less farmers' water use — and often do At 58, Mr. Hopper remembers when not even gauge it. water was so plentiful and the Ogallala lay so near the surface that "One of the goals, I think, of most conservation and cost barely of the producers here is to reduce entered his mind. But cotton is a the use of water,"-said Jim C. thirsty plant, and out where he lives, Conkwright, the general manager for farming has always been a marginal the district based in Lubbock, which business. covers Mr. Hopper's farm. "But it's not something we can accomplish On Mr. Hopper's farm, the aquifer, overnight." which stood 95 feet below the surface when he was a boy, now Most water experts say the most stands at 335 feet, with just 65 to urgent task is to find ways to do go before it hits bottom. Now, he more with less. "If you become more figures, his water bill (in electricity, efficient within reason, we can for pumping from ever greater improve the situation in many places depths) accounts for a fifth of his around the world," said Ben overhead. Last year, he earned 52 Dziegielewski, executive director of cents an acre for his cotton, not the International Water Resources enough to break even, and 20 cents Association. of that came from the government. Mr. Hopper says that is what he and Environmentalists call it a waste many other farmers have done. twice over; the United States American farmers who withdrew 2.9 produces a surplus of cotton, and feet of water for every irrigated 3 , acre in 1980 were making do with at all. "Who are they to say that 2:6 feet by 1995, government farming is not the most beneficial statistics show. use?" Mr. Hopper,asked. The savings reflect efforts to Controlling Water's Use eliminate losses from evaporation, In places like Petersburg, there is wind and runoff, as Mr. Hopper has much talk these days about what is done by installing the center-point unfolding near Abilene, to the north, sprinklers. They deliver water closer as a possible barometer of the to his cotton with about 95 percent future. There, the wealthy investor efficiency, compared with about 50 Boone Pickens and his company, percent for old-fashioned furrow Mesa Water Inc., own farmland, and irrigation. their plan is to pump the water from underground and sell it to other With the savings in pumping costs, parts of the state. Mr. Hoppers says he has paid for his investment in just a few years. "It Over a lunch of cheeseburgers and all comes down to economics," he tater tots smothered in chili and said. "I' II take as good care of the cheese, Craig Heinrich, 38, who land as I can afford to do." grows cotton himself, was among the local farmers who said he just did But even as farmers like Mr. Hopper not know what to think of the plan. try to conserve, thirsty cities and suburbs in the region have begun to "If they're going to pump all that look to the Ogallala to meet their water out of the aquifer, it's going expanding water needs. By 2050, to have a real impact on farming," he planners in Texas expect municipal said. "But if they start telling him water use to rise by nearly 67 what he can and can't do with his percent. water, they' ll be telling us next." The competition alarms farmers like Telling people how to use their Mr. Hopper, who argues that the water, something many see as a cities have no claim on the aquifer natural right, is a sensitive issue. In 4 .Texas and most other Ogallala promote conservation to making states, landowners still have the grants available to help farmers final say over how and how much of switch to more efficient irrigation. the water beneath their land they should use. For now, states like Texas seem comfortable with the idea that But in Nebraska, local water conservation will more or less take districts have taken the authority care of itself. to limit how much water can be used for crops. Over the next 50 years, Texas' water board expects rising pumping "As we restrict the water supply, costs to push some farmers out of the irrigators are more or less business. That, it hopes, will free up required to use the water as increasing amounts of Ogallala efficiently as they can," said Bob water. To water managers like Mr. Hipple, general manager of a water Hipple in Nebraska, though, such district in Nebraska's southwest. projections seem optimistic and and There, to supplement rainfall, misplaced. farmers may use just 14.5 inches of underground water per acre per "When I was in Vietnam," he said, year, down from 22 inches a year in "we used to kid about the idea that 1980, when the limits were first we might as well live fast, die young imposed. and leave a good-looking corpse. An area can let everyone pump all the But such restrictions have for the water they want, or it can say, most part been left to states to perhaps it is better to live slower, apply. The federal government has live to be older and look as good as mostly limited its own efforts to you can along the way." 5 Stealth Attack Its scary how major land use decisions are made in Palm Springs. A developer comes in to develop a half square mile of North Palm Springs. He talks to the Planning Director, Doug Evans, who puts the Planning Department to work. No attempt is made to involve any of the affected neighbors at the early stages in a meaningful way. They are not informed, or are barred, as to pertinent meetings of review. Then it goes to the Planning Commission. The commissioners have a few days to pour over the voluminous information, but basically, it is already a done deal. Next, it goes to the city council who again have only a few days to study a proposal that may add as much as 10% to the city's population. The proposal is passed despite two council members, Ginny Foat, pleading for more time, and Steve Pougnet, seconding the motion. There is no environmental impact analysis, no study to see how the city's finances are impacted. The developer happily goes back home and the citizens of Palm Springs have lost another round in trying to preserve their unique community. What a despicable way to run a city. Who is at fault? The Planning Commission and the City Council members who slovenly follow Doug Evans and the developers who are hell bent to destroy our village. Finally, "Rubber-Stamp Ron", the mayoral swing vote, has yet to take a stand against the destruction of a heritage which was meant to be preserved and protected. How 'bout these public officials turning their attention to the downtown depressed Plaza?We still miss Sak's Fifth Avenue, and long for a Trader Joe's, a Kinko's, all levels of clothing and accessory stores. What are we offered? Another Wal-Mart. If you have to import something, make it El Paseo. The north end of Palm Canyon is even more disgracefully under-developed. Day spas should abound, festivals, films and follies heralded nationwide. A magnet for nature lovers lured to our unspoiled terrain should be prominent in the tourism promotion for the city and the surrounding sights.. The City Council and Staff are putting lifestyles and livelihoods at risk. Without the affected community's input, or not notifying concerned citizens in a timely manner, they put in jeopardy their sworn fiduciary duty to the people of Palm Springs. (This has happened at several critical stages of public review.) We expect you to be responsible and accountable to the people of Palm Springs. For those of you who can receive graphics in your e-mail, here's a picture of Chino Canyon now and my rendering of what it wM {' the developers have their way. r .�'• i �+���. _ �yt. .yam 9 ,w n >r Uf < M p tow, fi s "�`• ' -'r9�"7nilE;:,7r�"' ��" '. `�-a�`.,`., _�e.:.,7AF ,.?�.,�,.t��9 John Campbell Yahoo! Mail- danaabcc(a)yahoo.com, Page I of 1 Women Of Wal-Mart Take A Big Step Forward. Congratulations to the women of Wal-Mart whose sex discrimination suit will go forward as the largest class action workplace-bias lawsuit in U.S. history. The federal court this week ruled on the basis of"uncontested statistics which show that women working in Wal-Mart stores are paid less than men in every region, that pay disparities exist in most job categories, that the salary gap widens over time — and that the higher one looks in the organization,the lower the percentage of women." THURSDAY,MAC'27, 2004 L11 77 !' , vj �;� Irliu?.�,. _NA ljp�;;,,� Un"T •jlviJ�' ;u UII l u tl1a,�l"a�i; i am also taken aback bv.rbiayor oden's com- ':�B T_ �_, rr)7 s�`'�9` :r:�L",,,M pletely uneguestioni- re_rnark to the imurove- rnent plan of, "I like it" Doesn't he have any 1 a_ baffled by the Palm Springs Aerial reserva'dons about any of the proposals? Tt2nwayltnnrovem?entplanpresented to the C y Fu=rher,how is the novelr;_-movie theater vith Council on T-esctay� ("Facelift nhuLed fc,-aging a dl- a scenic bring b"e*i:ich tlhe enpe fence" r,arm,"i�, yap).rho.;.doejami:-+�tr�ago co-„rse, that*anfolds when you reach the mow-ntainsta- skadng' al;and noveltynhocietheater,"emichthe Lion? ?'a1'�b 'urough the na'cnral cverbTeen m-- erience"oz thenatural ma-ttficetace of our San fereszs,smel_di*ng the pines,and breathing in the facinio � fa -� J resh,clew-,cool mountain air is ti'a-hat 1;�i enli:y The improved 360-de ee revolving 'tram z car as a. " n e_riched experience," ascent, though, o{less imp>_'oved views of the 1 do know,the perfect place for that proposed towering pines and rugged rock fa—lations, reczeaaon facility. Right in Font of our acw su- Tlvs change definitely has further en iched the uer-colossal w3'.Tal-Ivlart. tarn ay experience. Coachdlr. t Laced tourism push urged f r �e Vim. T / " It It 111 , s � � t t J. S'.115,THE DESERT SON 1 Sight seeing- Kevin Bachman of Atlanta(right)gets directions to Joshua Tree National Park and other desert attractions k from Eddie Teran (left)at the Palm Springs Visitors Center on Tuesday.Bachman's 8-year-old son Aedin looks on. e Expert: Agencies should promote Palm Springs brand By Lou F"IrasH I THE DESERT SUN * The same consultant who criticized t the Pahn Springs Bureau of Tourism for a"go-it-alone attitude"has issued a separate report suggesting that the Coachella Valley's two tourism ages- -' -,,k' * ''- r ties should work together to market the Coachella Valley as a single des- tination. - In an operational review ofthe Palm *wu'..' aim, v Springs Desert Resorts Convention t, and Visitors Authority,tourism es:pert ._..-.__-_ .--'' ` `-- - _ Marshall Murdaugh said the regional _, f tourism agency should consolidate -rr1,� -, '. „�nr-;- g marketing efforts with the city of Pahn JIM SIL M,THE DESERT SUN b Springs'tourism bureau. Visiting:Yadira Vera of Whittier,with her two children,a niece and a nephew, v Murdaugh, a Memphis consultant leave the Palm Springs Visitors Center with brochures. who does these audits for tourism s; agencies amtmd the country,couldnot n be reached for comment last week public opinion every day about vaca- Thursday of the city's tourism bu- a But he said in his report,"Unques- tion travel decisions,"he wrote. reau. A day after that audit, Linda A tionably, Palm Springs is the brand Murdaugh was hired by both the Fort, the director of Palm Springs' li for the entire region." Convention and Visitors Authority,or tourism bureau,resigned, it That assessment, he said, is "based CVA,and the Palm Springs Tourism The CVA review was issued to u on the tremendous equity of name Bureau to conduct separate perfor- agency officials in early January,but f4 recognition by worldwide consumers, mane reviews of each agency. only recently distributed to city lead- P tourism industry intermediaries and His report on the CVA was far less ers and reporters. o '�'pj"0't51er� #D�t��csl�c-h sjcl9Fs ��tTteWr-'trFa}u-tWs C RE'Aa'r a9E 4 _ MONDAY,APRIL 12,2004 A7 FROM PAGE Al Yy7 neverknewewmctlywhereitis,like Fourism me,"said VanderRoest,46. g Re#oolin the Convention and Visitors Authority Kevin&achmanofAdantasradhe Among the findings and recommendations made to the CVA by Murdaugh: onrinued from Al also thought of Palm Springs as his ■The CVA is clearly under-funded.With its$5 million budget it competes The executive board of the destination,even thoughheplartsto against communities like PhoenWScotlsdale,with a combined$17 million CYNs Joint Powers Authority— visit Joshua Tree National Park budget;and Las Vegas with a$168 million budget. msistingofrepresentatives of city while in the desert with his family. ■The valleywide CVA has community support,but parochialism among ad county governments from He said he was surprised to individual cities could undermine its effectiveness. -ound the valley — will meet learn that two different tourism ■While the CVA has greater involvement with elected officials than many pril 20 to respond to the report. agencies promote the valley, other similar organizations in the country,'there appears to be a need for better Brandin an iden Murdaugb cautioned the two communication between the organization and individual city councils." g tq tourism agencies against sending r To boost accountability,the CVA should consolidate its reporting with a CVA PresidentAfrke Fife said he outconflicting messages thatcon- "new and oonprehensive monthly and annual analysis of all activity and weed with Murdaugh's recom- fuse tourists. produtdift."A new Administration Department should provide this mordudng. rendation that Palm Springs and He gave a far more positive re- re CVA or*their message. view of the CVA than he did the "What we're trying not to do is Palm Springs Tourism Bureau in CVA management over the way The CVA's budget is$5 million, onfuse the customer," he said. a report obtained by The Desert the authority reports hotel book- compared with a combined $17 Ourconcembrtermsofthatreport Sun last week. ings.Some officials in Desert Hot million budget inPhoenhdScotts- ,as about branding — it wasn't Murdaugh described the city Springs also expressed concerns dale and the$168 million budget bout the duplication issue." tourismbtueau as havingtittle ac- of their own last week,saying the available in Las Vegas. Several tourists interviewed at countability and underachieving city is not as well represented as Another problem is parochialism to T Springs Visitors Center marketing efforts, among other others in CVA literature. among individual cities, which tst vv ..said that Palm Springs is criticisms. The report says the CVA needs a could undermine the CVA's effec- re name that brought them to In cumast,he said the regional more"proactive"communications tiveness. Individual city marketing he Coachella Valley, even CVA is"generally positively recog- program that reaches out to cities. initiatives "clearly need to be lough they may venture outside nized within the community and Among challenges facing the aligned with the CVA to avoid dti- to city during their visits. the national tourism industry." agency, the consultant said the plicaaon and conflicting marketutg Laura VanderRoest, of Walled CVA is under-funded compared messages to the consumer and ake, Mich., said she brows of Wo ung together to competing tourism cities. meeting planner,"the report said. 'alm Springs as a tourist desti-' But he did identify areas needing ation mostly from watching old improvement. He pointed to "a I Love Lucy"episodes.She said need for better communication be- ' -'-'_, •.YohyY- �V/,-Wr'D:Aoh.maumkpkm g a. ae area conjures up images of tweendreotgarrizationandinclivid- lob Hope and world-class golf, tail city councils." "People have just heard the Officials in Palm DesertandLn- 4 f •„''„ as " [ 1, tord`Palm Springs'even Wthey than Wells recently feuded with _: .. The "Steak-on-a-Salad-Plate" Syndrome We have been reading all the recent letters complaining about the high density of new Palm Springs developments such as Pintura, Palm Hills, Section 14, the WalMart mega-complex, The Boulders, Crescendo, Mountain Gate, etc., etc., etcetera! We, too, feel deeply concerned about this and did some research on the matter. One reason is the simple failure of our city government to be more strict in enforcing the General Plan and the zoning code. Variances are constantly given and this must stop: Another reason is the use of the so-called Planned Unit Development (PUD) which allows developers to ignore normal set back requirements creating postage stamp lots to build new homes. The developer of Palm Springs Village boasts about his golf course, but in order to assemble the land for this course, the city allowed him to slice off the front, side and back yards of the 1200 plus homes he wants to build, rather than asking him to provide additional land. Hence the density. PUD's are ruining the leisurely, un-crowded feeling of our town. Now, state Assemblywoman, Pat Higgins, is doing an end-run around environmental laws by trying to legislate high-density statutes to "re-create the look of California's older cities and neighborhoods". This is to be done by institutionalizing "form-based zoning". This is super-high density planning and promotes "less restrictive zoning to re-create the look". This is an outrage when cities cannot provide funds for water, electricity, pest control (West Nile is here!), or emergency respondent services to their current over-burdened community residents whom these heroes serve. There numbers are fewer as many have been called to war in Iraq. And they want to double the population with these developments? Are their heads in the flower-sprinkled sand dunes they want to pave over?! A major proponent of these PUD's is Councilman Chris Mills who will be up for election in 2005. Mayor Oden is the swing vote. He has yet to "just say no" to a developer. So, if you want to stop the crushing density of new developments and traffic, air, noise and light pollution, not to mention strained resources, keep this in mind. There is also the remedy of the ever-popular"recalls" to be considered. MINDY Govol&rnor, tribes close to, $4, billion casino deal TItF ASSOCIATED PRESS building codes,environmental and the United Auburn Indian Band of Mission Indians and SACRAMENTO inipactsof development and COmmunity,,froin the Sacra- Paurna Band of Mission Indic With a$1.billion agreement ' worker and consumer - mento area;and the Vicjas�Band all from the San Diego area.F with tribal gambling interests nsum lighbj Tribes Will also pay licensing: ofKumeyaay Indians,the Pala ma,as yet,does not have ca, imminent Gov.Schwarzenegger fees to the state that will be even- says hevviH oppose two measures tuaUyworfli$275 million a year. on the November ballot that , I I "I thiiik within a very short z would expand the gaming indus'-� , m�4ftime we willimow n alo ` p ty much mole about diW'the gov- - The-pending agreement is with error said at a news conference < four tribL�that have casinos d- Tuesday."Because the other tribes M ready and one that is'secking state snow comi" i coming and saying we � g permission,to open a fiicility. want to be part of this,we can see According to administrative that we can work togetherwith sources,the tribes would borrow you and with the state,and we the cash,probably through a , want to be a partner of your--" private bond Sale,and pay it of, Thogoyernorls$103 billion over 18 years using profits 66m budget plan month plain-released last expanded gaining operations. did not include the$j billion The proposed compact:also, from the trfl)es,except to note that calls on the tribes to waive some new agwrindirts with the Indians aspects-of their severeign status as would generate a"significant7 independent governments not one-time payout to the state above bound by state laws.Iri exchange the$500 million mark. for the support for casino expan- So far the tribes who are ex- sion,mbes would agree to accept petted to sign on to the'deal are rate authority over such things as Rumsey Band of Wrat Indians raw YOUR WORLD ' t. Cornnuttee passes bill.to push 'smart zoning' THEASSPCIATED PRESS older cities and neighborhoods: ' stitutionalize so-caued"I fian-n- SACRAMENTO passed its first test Wednesday in based zoning"in state statutes that Legislationpromoting I&! the state Senate govern California development restrictive zoning to more easily Pushed by Assemblywoman The Senate Local Government re-create the look of CaEfbmia's Pat Wiggins,the bill would in- Committee passed the bill 7-0. 760 17ZI ff CALIFORNIA TUESDAY,JANURY 15.2004A7 E nviron-mentalists fight blight-site bill H USING: The governor tion originated months before Sion being heard Monday.It of- resents a"Chill effort to prevent Schwarzenegger took office,ins . fers "limited liability" upon anyone from suing them." wants to relax standards dustry representatives say it meeting numerous state clea- to encourage new growth will diminish legal and financial There are an estimated The bill must pass the full threats that typically scare 90,000 to 100,000 blighted nup conditions. The bill also Senate by Jan.31 or die. in older cities. awards attorney and expert fees California's powerful envi- them off the governor's stated industrial sites in California. to landowners if they prevail ronmental lobby has come un- By JIM WASSRRMAN growth priority, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS against lawsuits regarding new der increasing criticism for Candidate Schwarzenegger liabilities. stalled growth in existing cities, SACRAMENTO-A key element promised his administration Brian White, lobbyist with the But even as the federal gov- even as it also campaigns ag- of Gov. Schwarzenegger's cam- would move quickly to "com- California Building Industry ernment and states such as Mi- gressively against suburban paign plank for new growth in plete the cleanup of brownfield Association. chigan, Massachusetts and sprawl, oldercities maybe ontheropeS, sites"for development. The bill by Sen.Gil Cedillo,D- Pennsylvania have relaxed The CBIA magazine,"Califor- potentially leaving California Monday's showdown is also Los Angeles,provides land pur- standards for developers of con- nia Builder" complained last farther behind national efforts the newest drama in a long Chasers more guarantees that taminated properties, Califor- September about"an old guard to redevelop blighted industrial struggle between builders and they won't later be held respon- nWs environmentalists say de- of environmental purists—cus- sites. environmentalists. sible for newly discovered con- velopers are seeking too much todians of tired and outdated Environmentalists aim Men- Both claim new growth on old tamination problems that they freedom on the state's troubled environmental laws and deeply day to block a developer bill that land as priorities. didn't cause. land, imbedded in the power struc- would relax standards to build Resolving it is critical to eas- Developers and a coalition of "This is an effort to go beyond ture of the state Capitol." new housing and stores on der- ing California's housing short- housing activists, bankers, federal law and undermine a Magavern said he doesn't mart industrial sites, typically age and agendas that promote business groups and social ad- number of state environmental "want people in inner city in older neighborhoods. less traffic,restored cities and vocates first sought "blanket laws,"said Sierra Club lobbyist neighborhoods like mine to be The bill is one of three on the people living closer to their liability" from lawsuits and Bill Magavern, adding that the exposed to more contamination Legislature's agenda regarding jobs. costly unforeseen cleanups. bill gives developers a new, than people in the suburbs.We such sites in California. "If we don't do it.they're nev- But prospects for defeat much broader"immunity"from want infill. We want clean in- Though the builders' legisla- er going to get cleaned up,"said prompted the compromise ver- contamination issues and rep- fill." y Shadow Government As one who was very excited about a new council, with much hope for a new direction, I am very disappointed. It seems like business as usual, if not worse. The new council does provide easier access and they are better listeners, but some still can't "hear" the community. After they "sequestered", or classified, info from the people of Palm Springs, they rubber-stamped the Section 14 Plan, causing the people to gather signatures for a referendum. A motion to adopt the Planning Commission's height limits of 60 feet, instead of 100 feet, by Ginny Foat was not seconded. Do we need or want a high rise city?Absolutely not! Then there was Wal-Mart, not a great image builder for Palm Springs and certainly not a help for established local businesses. Again, a 4 to 1 vote, with Ginny Foat the only one to challenge. Now the stupendous development of 1200 new homes was quietly moved through planning, without any timely citizen participation, as were the Section 14 and Wal-Mart issues. Once more, Ginny Foat argued for some additional time to give the people a chance to participate. Seconded by Steve Pougnet the motion died. Now, the Mountain Preservation Initiative, the MPI, filed by representatives of hundreds of concerned citizens, has to collect signatures to stop four major tract developments in our hillsides, mountains and canyons. Only weeks to gather all the signatures required for getting it on the November ballot. This would not be necessary if the city followed the current City Plan, but now, it's the only recourse and a real hardship. We urge all concerned citizens to seek out and sign this petition. Either these people on the council, railroading urban blight through the process, don't care at all about Palm Springs, or they are totally on the developer's side. And I would like to know what their motives or incentives are. It certainly is not for the benefit of the residents and local businesses. An independent audit and investigation of development violations is in order, and way overdue. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR Ron Oden "To this date I have not seen the plans for the Stoneridge project. I have spoken with the developer regarding the concept of the project but again I have not seen any plans. This matter will obviously come before us in a public hearing process which is a judicial matter and sides cannot be taken prior to the hearing. Someone else asked me about the project and I simply explained the difference between a planned development and a right of zone project and later I hear that I am supporting the project,which I never said. I am now making it a policy that I won't entertain any discussion about a project that 1 know will come before me in the public hearing process because I don't want to give the impression of any. 'impropriety. I thank you for your understanding in this matter,Tim." Sincerely, RON CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL Bill Feingold "I can honestly say that after touring the proposed building sight for the Stoneridge project I came away with many disturbing questions that I want answered.I love the neighborhoods of Palm Springs--I believe in development but want to make sure our development is SAFE and Sane.I can't take sides at this time-- but 1 will fully investigate the proposed project. I will promise to be open to both sides--I will never roll over and agree on a project just because someone is influential in our town." Ginny Foat After a second attempt for a response: "With regard to the Stone Ridge Development it is an example of why I am a candidate for City Council. I find it outrageous that a developer can come into a neighborhood and begin development without completing a process that involves the neighbors. I have proposed a strengthening of the neighborhood council and support empowering the council to be the first stop in the development planning process.Using that methodology,we would not wake up one morning to the sound of a sign being staked in the ground touting the name and price of the development. I am fully in favor of retaining our diverse neighborhood identity and would not support a development that infringed on neighbors privacy,property values or neighborhood character. As a member of the City Council 1 would take my direction on a proposed project from the Neighborhood Council. I am a strong believer in citizen involved government. Although it is ultimately up to the City Council to make the tough decisions they cannot and shall not continue to be made in a vacuum. Residents should not have to flock to City hall to attend planning commission meetings and City Council meetings to protest what should have had a through public airing before it reaches approval stage. Having said that,I must also add that I am not anti development. I think that it is important that Palm Springs grows and adds inventory to its housing stock. I just happen to believe that there is a away to plan that expansion so that it does not change the fabric of our city and does not result in law suits against the city as we saw happen in Desert Hot Springs. I hope this long diatribe answers your question.I would be honored with your vote." Best Wishes, Ginny Jim Franklin "As far as the Stoneridge project,I have received a few calls from residents in that area that are concerned about the project.I would hope that W.Wessman would work with the residents in that area to come up with a plan that would work for everyone.I personally believe that he should be focusing on cleaning up the Desert Fashion mall first. I am not in favor of letting developers destroy our hillsides and mountains. I moved to Palm Springs over 15 years ago from LA.The last thing I want to see is turning our city into another Orange County." Mountain Preservation Initiative Ordinance The problem we face is that developers are planning to build-out the remaining open space in the mountains with massive tract home developments. As we speak, developers are preparing applications on at least 400 tract homes in our mountains. They are especially targeting the Chino Canyon and the mountains above the Von's shopping center on 111 at Gene Autry. The mountains behind Las Palmas, around Araby and in the south part of the city are certain to be built-out as well. In other words, if we do not pass our initiative the entire open space in our mountains will be destroyed within a couple of years. As one tourist commented to me recently, if developers have their way, Palm Springs will look worse than Orange County. I Of course, not only do we lose our irreplaceable mountains and spectacular views, but our quality of life will be diminished with the increase traffic and pollution. And tourism is certain to suffer. People come from across the globe to appreciate what are some of the most unique mountains in the world. Our initiative simply says: No tract homes in the mountains. If someone wants to build a single home on their lot in the mountains that is fine, we are not taking away any one's rights. But no massive subdivisions. We simply want for Palm Springs what so many other cities in this state have, which is a thoughtful zoning ordinance preserving our natural treasures. We are just getting started, but support for the mountain preservation initiative has been overwhelming. The community is coming together and we want you to work with us on the campaign. If you want to join us in whatever availability you have, I can put you in touch with the Committee Coordinator and please sign up for our next Development Impact Task Group to learn more about this Initiative. Introduce Chino Canyon Neighbors on the Mountain Preservation Steering Committee. Yahoa! Mail - abccdana@yahoo.com Page From: "Mallika Albert" <mallika@de.rr.com> n View Contact Details To: "'Lee A. Husfeldt"' <LeeH@ci.palm-springs.ca.us> Subject: RE: Council)visioning session Date; Tue, 6 Jul 2004 21:40:25 -0700 Hi Lee, I'm wondering if maybe you were placed in an awkward position again... I'm shocked to be receiving only a one day notice about this important City Council Workshop. How does this meeting format work, Lee? Do audience members participate? Have you attended one of these meetings in the past? Do other City employees, Le: Planning Department, also attend these workshops?Is there a published Agenda for the day?When is the lunch break? I'm also wondering if other neighborhood representatives Citywide already knew about this Council Visioning Session?Why would an important meeting like this be scheduled in July? Thanks, Lee. Mallika Albert -----Original Message----- From: Lee A, Husfeldt[madlto:LeeH@ci.palm-springs.ca.us] Sent: Tuesday,July 06, 2004 4:38 PM To: April Hlldner; Bill and Trish Davis; Bill Scott; Bob Evans; Christine Hammond; Colin Sprang; Craig Richmond; David Stratton; Debbie Harris; Diane Ahlstom, Dick Mandell; Dorothy Bowens; Emily Neves; Frank Gaydos; Frank Tysen; Ginny Foat; Greg Day;Jim Franklin; Jim Jones;John Goodrich; John Hansen; John Williams; Lee Husfeldt; Lyn Calerdine; Madllika Albert; Matilde Jones; Michael Kennedy; Michael Moret; Nancy Williamson; Nickie Mclaughlin; Pat Grimm; Paula Auburn; Peter Moruzzi; Randy Williams; Ray Worthington; Robert Hazucha; Robert Shanahan; Ron Siegel; Roxanne Ploss; Scott Kennedy;Tim Hohmeler; Warren Weber Subject: Council visioning session I've got several things to update you all on, but let me start with what's coming first. The City Council will be meeting Thursday, July 8, at the Convention Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. and going until possibly 4 p.m. This will be a council workshop format. There are three things on the agenda. 1.) Briefing On Mayor's Valley Wide Summit 2.) SCI-ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture) —Presentation by Mayor concerning the Mayor's Institute on City Design at SCI-ARC 3.)Visioning Session—Council discussion on City goals and objectives, future economic and development trends; and development of Work Program for the next five years I expect most of the time will be spent on this item. I met with the City Attorney on Thursday regarding drafting an ordinance for ONIPP. 1 gave him the draft document we've been working on and the wording from Jim Jones along with examples from other cities that we had looked at. He is going to do some research and put something together as to"this is what you could mean,what is your intent." He wants to meet with four or five people from the group late next week. I talked to Jim Jones and he identified a few people(including himself)to meet with the City Attorney. Also, I've been told that the ordinance in concept will be on the City Council's Study Session agenda for July 28. If this is the case, I think it would be important to have a good turnout from the neighborhoods to make comments, hear the http://us.f6O6.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=8081_650262_3255_1434_4... 7/7/0-e `ahoof Mail - abccdana@yahoo.com Page 2 of 2 Council debate this and give direction. I will keep you updated as to the July 28th meeting and I will e-mail the draft ordinance as soon as it is ready. (Expect it late in the month). If the Council takes up the issue on the 28th, do we still need to meet on the 29th?We don't need to decide that now. If we do meet that day, it will be at 2 p.m. in classroom C at the police training center, which is just north of the police station. More later, Lee -LtP:Hus.f606.mal Il.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=8081_650262_3255_1434_4... 7/7/04 CHARLES IRA SACHS 336 West Mariscal Road Palm Springs, CA 92262-290736 (760) 32"398/chariessachs((Dearthlink.net March 2, 2006 TO: City Council of Palm Springs SUBJECT: Boulders Review Eleven months ago I moved to Palm Springs. It has been a most interesting first year. I figured jump into activities of this charming, scaled down from Los Angeles, where I lived for 30 years, where uncontrolled growth has created more traffic and higher costs of living the closer to a city center you lived. I have since discovered nothing new here in Palm Springs growth, like the packed together new homes just over a mile from where I live. This past year proved getting involved enlightening coming to these city council chambers, something I never did in Los Angeles, I felt this smaller town would listen to the appeal of the residents. in LA with difficulty with a new landlord, I sent an appealing letter to Mayor Hahn. He replied in three days. I got a call later that day from his special assistant with a referral to the next level of city review who also was very receptive to my issue which was harassment by the new owner to force me to move, later to increase the rent almost 400%. When I first came here, I sent a letter to the mayor, appealing for the preservation of the highway#111landscape and to take a drive on that approach to the city and how magical it was. I received no reply. I guess he takes that ride more often to not need a newer person's perspective. Getting involved with the Mountain Preservationists was an accident. I attended one of their early meetings the second week here at our condo club house, our association's way to bring groups together. A neighborhood watch was started, all to make both our area, and the rest of the city safer and more beautiful. But this year has proved the city does not respond often to residents appeals. Be it budget cuts, blamed on questionable reasoning, or just that others have ears with more connections, such as the refusal to followup up our excess noise complaints of the local bar Toucans, not complying with their conditional permit and creating some serious traffic hazards due to their location. After continued area residents appeals, Crescendo and Boulders, the second major development will be built in the hills, a mile downwind from my residence. Being asthmatic, this could greatly affect my health and value of my home. Should I come to the city for restitution for any lost quality of live and health issues under review tonight?We residents only want you to respond correctly, by the established laws in place, to continue to make Palm Springs a better place to live for all of us, within the appropriate scale that makes this community unique to all others in this remarkable landscape. Yours truly, Charles Ira Sachs COMMITTEE FOR TIIE PRESERVATION OF LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON NEIGHBORHOODS 440 West Chino Canyon Road, Palen Springs, CA 92262-2906 Tel: (760) 416 1072 Fax: (760) 323 0880 e-mail: little mscanygyahoo.com The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council City of Palm Springs March 1, 2005 P.O. Box 2743 Palm Springs, CA 92263 Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council, The Boulders (TTM 31095) We are mindful of the immense amount of paperwork that you will receive regarding The Boulders and the many other projects which will be before the Council on March 2nd. However, we respectfully request that you take a few moments to consider some of the serious concerns of our two neighborhoods regarding this development, which we have outlined in this folder. We deplore the threats, insults and vituperation used by some of our citizens during the public comment period. The following is our attempt to convey to you and to the other members of the Council in a calm, rational form some of the different reasons why there has been such a public outcry over this proposed development. We thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Yours sin erely, John H. rich o e alf of the Committee for the Preservation of Little Tuscany & Chino Canyon Neighborhoods Slopes and Terraces • A characteristic of the Boulders design is a series of benches or terraces • No slope stability study has been performed or required. We have requested such a study and continue to believe it should be completed and made available prior to any sort of consideration by the Council • Some of these manufactured benches are 30 ft high (taller than the City's downtown parking structure) and steep (2:1 slope)—see photo exhibit later in this section • We maintain these unnatural slopes are not generally characteristic of our neighborhoods. Jim Morrissey of PZL, in his draft Initial Study (undated) performed for the City stated: "...a redesign of the site will be required to eliminate the dramatic slopes envisioned by the proposed project." (page IV-4) • The streets of Janis and Milo are classic examples of the inadequacies of this type of design. Some of those who live there call them "the ugliest streets in the neighborhood." • We were assured by the Council sub-committee on Boulders that such streets as Janis and Milo could not be built by today's standards. • Benching has been a major issue of concern throughout the process with the Architectural Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission and Staff all raising objections about this aspect of the project. • A consequence of benching is high retaining walls. The latest TTM shows retaining walls in excess of 20 ft (Staff Report, page 3). Planning has introduced a condition (#29) limiting walls to six feet, but it is not clear how this is to be achieved and, in fact, it may not be possible. • New cut and fill figures are still not available to enable us to understand the extent of excavation and manufacturing required to construct the proposed benches. • To create the benches, material must be created via stone crushing, (to remove excess boulders from the site and to provide fill), which inevitably leads to unavoidable environmental impacts. Conclusions: 1. Benches are a widespread concern. 2. Severe benching is Ynandatory to achieve this ni-any houses in 'this site configuration. 3. To build benches requires massive cut and fill and 9-12 months of mock crushing in an historic residential neighborhood.. 4. This project should be redesigned to reduce slope heights and minimize benching or eliminate benching and mass grading entirely. 5. Reduced benching and/or elimination of bencbing and inass grading would reduce significant environmental inapacts to air, traffic, noise, haydr°elogy, views and aesthetics. . The following page provides a visual image of what a 30 foot high, 2:1 slope would look like. 7 'AIL. 11 4 s �. . ;.46 A LA fw 4 • The Process The Difficulties the Committee has had Accessing Information has Impeded Due Process and our Ability to Participate Understand and Respond in a Timely Manner. We understand the need of the City to be "business friendly". • However, the process does not only exist for the developer. The Council also represents those citizens who are directly impacted by decisions made in the name of a "business friendly approach. • The Mayor, while still a Councilmember in July 2003, was quoted by the Desert Post Weekly as saying: • `Pm talking about the kind of leadership that creates an atmosphere of equality where a homeowner who comes to City Hall gets the same respect as a big developer." July 17, 2003 This evidence is sadly to the contrary in the instance of the Boulders project The following history of requests made to the Planning Department, from August 2003 to February 2005, details some of the difficulties, frustrations and inequalities experienced during a polite, respectful. eighteen month • effort to obtain information from the public records. HISTORY OF REQUESTS MADE TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT (AUGUST 2003 TO FEBRUARY 2005) Date Nature ofReauest Result 2003 1. August 26 We asked for time to consider PS Study Gp scheduled five developer's proposals before working days later "at the next public meeting developer's insistence" (DE) Residents given one day's notice. 2. Aug/Sept We made numerous requests, Told they were unavailable. verbally and in writing, for Special Studies re Then told they were difficult Stoneridge. to obtain because they were at the developer's office. After three weeks insistence, obtained copies from Planning and found studies were dated Dec 2002 and Feb 2003 • 3. September 15 Requested photocopies of Refused. Files subsequently certain documents in files stripped of virtually all significant correspondence. 4. September 18 Wrote letter of protest re Files reinstated. stripping of files, listing items missing 5. September 17 Written request for story poles Story poles erected April 3, 2004. Caused mass confusion among residents because no effort made to indicate graded height of pads. 6. October 24 Meeting with City Manager Promised better accessibility to protest City's attitude to neighbors' concerns 7. October 31 Requested information Neighbors uninformed. regarding special DRC Subsequently cancelled. • Meeting on Nov 17 to Doug Evans denied such consider Boulders. such a meeting ever planned in spite of evidence on file. S. November 10 Meeting with Doug Evans. Told TTM 31095 Rev 2 (subsequently released 11/20) was "best we could get." 9. November 14 Meeting with Alex Meyerhoff Told no DRC meeting until This conversation confirmed "neighborhood had signed off in writing November 14 on the project." (Second Neighborhood meeting never held.) 2004 10. January 5 Wrote to City Council, Acknowledgement from City City Manager, City Attorney, Attorney. No other response. Planning Commissioners, Planning Department, listing concerns and requesting 1. EIR No EIR (8) items normally required as part of a PDD: • 2. Preliminary grading plan, Provided on TTM showing slopes for all lots. 3. Fully dimensioned site plan, Provided on TTM showing pad locations on each lot, and setbacks from all property lines for each lot and pad elevations of adjacent neighboring lots. 4. Detailed listing of all waivers Scattered throughout and variances being requested. IS and files 5. Fully dimensioned elevations None provided of all sides of the houses. 6. Landscaping plan, including None provided plant sizes and location, and proposed plant palette, with particular emphasis on the types of groundcover proposed to prevent erosion on the manufactured slopes. 7. Detail of proposed drainage None provided inlet(s) for water tank overflow, • proposed for northern boundary of property and other locations. 2 • 8. Graphic showing which lots Text but no graphic are proposed to vary from zoning standards either in size or dimension, and percentage of total lots proposed to be substandard. 9. Origination and composition of Told no fill needed all proposed fill materials. 11. January 26 Informed City Attorney, in No response. response to his statement that "the existence of significant public controversy...can weigh ...towards an EIR" that we had obtained over 300 signatures to a petition and asked if this met the standard of"significant". 12. February 20 Sent 20 page brochure to City Attorney says "It is the Council and City Staff best I have ever seen." Doug Evans suggests Little Tuscany be listed as an • historic site. 13 April 5 Made presentation to Council Phone call from Doug Evans sub Committee and City Staff saying"Planning was leaning requesting an EIR towards an EIR but would have to check with Council sub-committee first." (04/07/04) 14. May 21 Repeated request for an EIR Told by Chris Mills an EIR to Council sub committee was too costly and time consuming. Instead, the IS would include a series of mini reports on residents' concerns. IS, subsequently released on November 10, contained no such reports 15. June 28 Further meeting with Council Told sub-committee would no sub-committee. Renewed longer meet with us. request for an EIR. • 3 • 16. August Requested customary access to Told by Yoav Shernock Boulders files. (Planning) that we must now give 24 hours notice to see files. Also no guarantee files would be complete. 17. August 23 Gave Planning 24 hour notice Files not available for several for files as requested days. 18 September 10 Gave Planning 24 hour notice Files again not available for several days. 19. September 14 Discovered letter from Mr. Not in file on Aug. 27 Wessman to the City, dated July 15, announcing his intention to proceed with Boulders as conceived at that date. This letter was not in Boulders file previously. 20. September 28 Requested in writing copy of Request refused verbally. • draft EA by PZL referred to in Marcus Fuller's memo a memo by Marcus Fuller subsequently disappears dated June 7. This letter not from Boulders files. previously in Boulders files. 21. October 15 Second request for PZL draft Refused in writing by Alex EA Meyerhoff. "Will be made available when finalized." 22, November 10 Renewed request for (8) items, Ignored. No response to date. plus exhibits, referred to in item# 10 above. 2005 23. January 27 Requested verbally copies of No response to date cross sections of site demanded by the AAC and referred to by Ms. Hemphill in the Planning • Commission meeting of January 26 as "on the board.". 4 Also requested copy of Mr. Finally provided on Feb 18 DePalatis letter dated after three personal visits to January 24 Planning Dept. (1/27, 2/4 & 2/18.) Requested cross section of site along northern boundary drawn to scale. (cf Exhibits No further information 14a & 14b in IS which are provided NOT to scale.) i February 21, 2005 5 • Rock Crushing 1. The rock crushing operation emerged mid-way through the process. It became critical to the project design in order to avoid significant air impacts from a trucking alternative. Mr. DePalatis, the Environmental Consultant, in the Initial Study (IS) dated November 10, 2004, page 52, states that ....from an air quality perspective, the trucking alternative is not recommended because there would either be a significant NOx exhaust impact, or the activity must be ongoing for over seven months at a reduced level if impacts are to be maintained at less-than-significant. At the Planning Commission's request, Mr Giroux, Senior Analyst, Giroux and Associates, Environmental Consultants, investigated the possibility of combining rock crushing with a limited program of hauling boulders off site and trucking in fill. In a memo dated February 2, 2005, to Michael Braun of Wessman Development and in public testimony before the Planning Commission on February 9, Mr. Giroux advised against this combination option. He noted: • "....that noise and vibration from hauling away and from importing • finished product would potentially affect a larger number of residents than conducting most of the operation on site." "we have recommended a limit of three truckloads per hour as a reasonable limit during actual residential construction." • "Thirty loads per day would unreasonably extend the construction schedule." Mr. Girowes conclusion was to a) Limit the crushing of boulders to those of 2.5 feet diameter or smaller. b) Use larger boulders to re-naturalize slopes and retaining walls. We have no current figures for the cut and fill required to create the proposed terraces. The amount could be more or less than previous numbers provided. If more crushing quantity is required for the latest design, the increased amount will impact duration and other important variables. Based on the previous figures of 140,900 cubic yards of cut and 140,000 cubic yards of fill, C.W. Poss, the contractor, estimates "a crushing quantity of 532,000 tons" would be needed. (page 2 of a proposal dated January 15, 2004, addressed to the Wessman Development Company.) No estimate has been made of what proportion of the rocks on site are 2.5 feet • diameter or less and consequently, how much, if any, additional fill will have to • be trucked into the site. If additional fill is needed, more trucks are needed to transport it and more impacts result. This has not been disclosed or analyzed. The only certain conclusion is that the developer and the Planning Department are committed to allowing massive amounts of rock crushing to occur in the midst of this historic neighborhood. Factors which would negate the need for rock crushing: • Project re-design • Fewer houses • Fewer terraces • No mass grading • Extended construction schedule 2. Noise Implications In his Noise Impact Analysis for the Boulders, dated July 7, 2004, Mr. Giroux addresses the implications of the "large quantities of granitic rock (that) must be processed." His conclusions are: • Current noise levels at the site are in the 42-44 dB Leq range • "The noise standard that will be applied to the project...(shall) be no more than twice as loud as the existing baseline." This is specified as 53 dB (decibels are a power ratio and that ratio is logarithmic. An increase of IOdB would be twice as loud as existing levels.) • The noise level at a rock crusher is 90 dB from 50 feet away. • Noise levels are attenuated by distance. Mr. Giroux estimates that over 500 feet this attenuation would reduce noise levels to 70 dB for a hard surface or 65 dB for a soft surface. He adopts the mean (67.5 dB). The adopted standard (53 dB) will therefore be exceeded by 14.5 dB. • Using a parameter called the "Fresnel Number", Mr. Giroux then calculates a berm 21.5 feet high over an area of 150ft X 500 ft will reduce the sound level to 53 dB. As a further precaution Mr. Giroux advises the crusher be depressed five feet below grade (a mini-canyon within a canyon) to permit loading without a temporary ramp. With regard to the above, we have the following concerns: a) The conclusions are wrong because they are based on an • analysis for different type of materials than proposed here. • b) Mr. Jensen of Aggregate Machinery Inc., makers of Thunderbird II, the quietest of the four crushing machines listed on page 9 of Mr. Giroux's Noise Impact Analysis cited above, states that the noise level of 90 dB at 50 feet is for asphalt concrete not granitic rock. For the latter, Mr. Jensen gives a figure of 100-110 dB which would totally invalidate Mr. Giroux's conclusions. c) The above calculations are theoretical. Against this we have the practical experience of the crushing operation at Murray Canyon, where the berm was considerably higher but residents over 1,000 feet away were obliged to remain in their homes for three months listening to the rattling of their china. This stone crusher was operating under a City permit, with the City in full control. d) The new proposed location for the rock crusher on the Boulders site is now closer than 500 feet to the nearest house, which was one of the parameters for Mr. Giroux's calculations. (Giroux: memo cited dated February 2, 2005 page 2; see also MM11-3) 3. Security Implications. • Placing a rock crushing operation next to 7 million gallons of water stored in DWA tanks is foolish. • Current project design places the quarry operation within 100 feet of DWA water reservoir tanks. • The constant movement and dropping of large boulders and the vibration from the crushing operation will result in ground vibrations similar to seismic movements. • 9-12 months of quarry operations results in 9-12 months of ground vibrations. • Ground vibrations could weaken or displace the reservoirs and/or their bases or result in small, difficult to detect cracks in the seams, structure or bases that could result in leakage or eventual rupture. • This potentially significant impact has not been sufficiently analyzed and cannot be mitigated. ConeJusions: L Tock crushing is only essential to this project of the current site design is allowed. There aice Aruulltiple alternatives the developer could pursue to avoid roeh crushing on this site. • 2. Tucking large amounts of nlateriai to and fromr the sste to acconaraodate the existing site design is also unacceptable duce to the sngn3hncant air -�vapacts which would inevitably result and which cannot be alitigated. 3. The conclusions of the noise study are flawed 4. Placing a quarry newt to 7 million gallons of stored water is umvise. 5. Rock cruusbinng should not be ally®wed 6. f4 project re-design should be required. Blank Checks for Unresolved Design Issues City building permits for homeowners are sometimes conditional on the use of a mandated color of paint. We understand the need for some flexibility for larger projects and the need to give some projects the freedom to proceed but the latitude granted to the developer of the Boulders is unwarranted. The project is still not well defined. Hydrology, slope stability, noise, traffic, site design and other facets of the project have not been fully analyzed. Information has not been made available for public review. The City Council is being asked to approve case No. 5.0973 PD-287, TTM 31095 with the following issues unresolved: 1. A tentative tract map (TTM 31095) has been approved by the Planning Commission in the full knowledge that it will be changed in ways yet to be determined. 2. Public confusion regarding areas of potential impact. The Adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration listed on the City's Notice of • Public hearing and Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration does not correspond the (revised) Summary of Findings of the Initial Study for the project. 3. An area of significant public concern—final pad heights--are being left to the developer to work out in the field. Condition#12 (Pad heights...shall be specified for each lot) is, by the Planning Commission's resolution, "to be loosened to allow for some flexibility to accommodate hydrology and some retaining walls with sensitivity to view corridors." 4. Many unanswered questions as to the location of design elements are dismissed by: "work it out later." Condition 23 (i) states: "the site shall be integrated into the existing neighborhood with pedestrian trails and bike paths." These are not indicated on TTM 31095 Rev 8. 5. A site design still in transition. Condition 24 & 29 deal with maximum pad heights, slope gradients and retaining walls. These are to be as specified on TTM 31095, in contradiction to Condition 12 noted above. "Retaining walls in excess of six feet shall be prohibited." However, the Staff Report dated February 23, 2005 • • refers to "...large retaining walls, including some in excess of 20...." There is no explanation of how this discrepancy will be resolved. 6. The Planning Commission adopted a resolution leaving the matter to be negotiated between Planning and the developer. The public will be left out of this important decision. 7. Condition 32 ends in an incomplete sentence which renders it meaningless. 8. Condition 52 refers to the storm water runoff on Chino Canyon Road. "Analysis and recommendations to satisfy this issue shall be included in the final hydrology study to be prepared for this development." This study, as of February 24, has not been made available to the public. 9. Condition 74. "Pad elevations shall be adjusted..." This allows modifications of the TTM in the field. "Trust us." 10. Condition 82. "All stormwater runoff ..a new drainage system...an on site retention and other storm drain lines facilities" shall be • approved by the City Engineer after the project is approved by Council. Not with public review and comment prior to the Council's decision. 11. Condition 85. Drainage improvements, "including-catch basins, retention basins as described in a final hydrology report..as approved by the City Engineer." The final hydrology report was not available for the public to study this issue when the project came before the Planning Commission.. 12. Condition 86. "Run off ...rupture or other failure of the Desert water Agency water storage tanks". Provisions for this potentially significant impact are to be left solely to the discretion of the City Engineer. Again, the public is left out of this important aspect of the project. 13. The Committee has been asking for storm drain designs for six months and has not been provided access to that information. Since no one has seen these designs, how can the IS conclude they are adequate to handle storm water, drainage and water tank flow? 14. The Planning Commission and staff tell the neighborhood not to • worry about noise from the rock crusher because if it gets too bad they'll fix it, or people can move or. sue. Wouldn't it be better to simply avoid the problem altogether and require a project re-design without rock crushing? 15, Water system improvements will be required. When will we know what those are and how they will affect the neighborhood? 16. A Homeowners Association is proposed for the project and will be responsible for the drainage systems, storm drains, retention basins, streets, culverts and so on. We have not seen the CC & Rs and wont until after approval. How much liability will this Association carry for over 7 million gallons of water stored above the site ora failed drainage system? Cea]I HTISfl3-cl Inn the rush for enntitlennenat, the details are to be v7orked out latev. • • Hydrology 1. The DWA Water Tanks • Five DWA water tanks are located on the eastern and western perimeters of the Boulders site. • These tanks have a capacity of over 21 million gallons of drinking water. • The Initial Study considers the possibility of a "reservoir rupture" and states that an "emergency overflow path is provided" to accommodate such a situation. (IS page 80, PD 8-1). There are two tanks above the site, each containing 3.5 million gallons. • Condition 86 of the Staff Report on the Boulders dated February 23, 2005 also refers to "rupture or other failure" of these tanks. • Mr. David Luker, General Manager of the DWA, in response to a written enquiry by Mr Marcus Fuller, stated that such a rupture or break at an Agency reservoir would cause "massive structural damages • rendering most of the area of concern uninhabitable..." • The rock crushing plant has now been moved to the edge of the western perimeter of the site within approximately 100 feet of the DWA tanks. The tanks will therefore be subject to vibration, not merely from the crushing of the boulders but also from the heavy equipment used to transport them to the crusher and dump them into the crusher jaws. • According to Mr. Luker, in a telephone conversation on February 22, 2005, a new reservoir tank will be necessary to service the Boulders and Crescendo projects. The location of this tank has yet to be decided but it will be above the Boulders site or on Tramway Road. This has not been disclosed or considered in the IS. Potential growth inducing impacts or cumulative impacts were not analyzed. • Mr. Woody Adams, Senior Service Planner for the DWA, was one of two references cited in the IS (page 106, 16d) under Utilities and Service Systems. These sources were referenced#15 and# 25. Number 15 is identified on page 115 of the Reference Section as a phone conversation with Mr. Adams on April 2, 2004. There is no # 25 source listed. • • Mr. Adams, in a telephone conversation on February 22, 2005, confirmed Mr. Luker's statement that a new tank would be required to service the Boulders. (see notes on this conversation at the back of this section.) • Mr. Adams further stated that upgrades, either temporary or permanent, will be required to service the Boulders project. These upgrades were not identified, considered or analyzed in the MND or IS. 2. Hydrology Report A new Hydrology report was presented by the developer to Staff during the course of the Planning Commission Meeting of February 23, 2005. The Planning Commission had to recess while Engineering checked the report. There was no public access to the report prior to the Planning Commission's action. 3. Drainage Issues and Concerns • In spite of repeated written and verbal requests (our letter of January 5, 2004 addressed to Council and copied to City Staff, our letter of • December 13, 2004 addressed to the City Planning Department) we have been denied a cross section drawing of the inlet to the storm water drain or drains on the southern perimeter of the site. • The correct design, function and maintenance of this drain inlet is essential to the safe dispersal of the storm water and the bleed off water from the DWA tanks above the site, excess water which currently drains through the natural swales and gullies of the desert property. • The Proposed Retention Basin, on the North East extremity of the site (see TTM 31095 Revision 5 dated 12/20/04) has disappeared from all three subsequent revisions. The Initial Study, page 78, 8d, refers , on at least two occasions, to basins in the plural. These basins are now reduced to one retention basin with no explanation for the change and no evidence that it will work. Conclusions It. lae l) y tanks, porticu laxly the Three above time site, cor Sl-i-L potential hazard! ale a which should, on its cvvra, besi-lt ur a funntlin g of • potential signnps_cance and justify an IR. 2. The need for a rieJV reservoir tams to Provide an adequate agate-r s7appoly for the Bo-ulZneis project is nevei mentioned in he 110 and.. should ails® m' be a cause :n®^ c �. findlirnd of potential sigraHicaxice annc,"I, an lEIR. 3. The public had no access to the developer's THydrology Report prior to One Planning Commission's decision or the project on February 23. 4. Tin'npon'V;ant- 'Llraii3age i,qs des have roL been disclos<:'a to tjae iitiibbc or the Ylann Pilln7y Colaml ssio'_ 5. zaiLnage coancei'nns related to the p-Zoioct site design l ha rd been ongoing. 3. Slo-oe stability is a serious coanceirn. 'F. On-site retention started as Viwo TUminns and has ram-ephedl into one basin v itfn little or no e-KplaanatAoin or study as to svaitabil,Ly. 3. eroeated requests for cross section drawl nags of the sto=.-n dray rage inlets have been donrnied. 9. DIVA,, has not been consulted, has _not reviennred or coca-meted on irne propnosedl drainage plan in Spite Hof the °act that they hold drainage easements on the p oject site, c'4AyreeIltly discha i_°ge water onto the site and count on the site to handle Potential faillures related to the rvatev tanAks that are located above the site. Down to the Wire • This project should be evaluated on its own merits without any artificial or self- imposed deadlines for action 1. Tentative Tract Map Revisions There are (8) revisions on the current TTM. Revision 1 02/13/04 Revised geometry and calculations Revision 2 06/28/04 Revised geometry and calculations Revision 3 08/05/04 Revised geometry and calculations Revision 4 11/10/04 Revised Chino Canyon Cross-Section from 22' to 2T Revision 5 12/20/04 Created split pads for lots 1, 8, 9-13, 20, 21-25, 33, 34-39, 41 & 45 • Revision 6 02/02/05 Revised geometry & calculations Revision 7 02/11/05 Revised geometry, calculations & preliminary grading Revision 8 02/16/05 Revised preliminary grading Note that out of these (8) revisions, three were made in the three weeks prior to the Planning Commission's approval. Our contention is that there has been insufficient time for the Planning Department, the Planning Commission, the City Council and the local residents to absorb and process all these major changes. 2. Last Minute Responses by Developer • Prior to each hearing the developer drops another last minute item on the table. At the first hearing it was a new site design, last minute up-dates to consultant reports and corrections to the IS and impacts reports. At the second hearing it was another site design, a scale model, new street connections and a total relocation of the rock crushing operation. At the most recent Planning Commission hearing a hydrology report was delivered DURING the hearing, prompting the Commission to recess to allow the City Engineer to review the report. The Planning Commission subsequently reconvened and approved the project. The public was denied access to the report prior to consideration and action by the Planning Commission. conclu-sions This or°oject should _°ise or fall on its oven merits. The public sklould be alloi)ved access to all off' the inffo7nination Provided in oaderr to corornent a.-rad/or i/°cise questions prier to c�ngifle:tiatAon ajad action. This has not happened ill the case off the 1R©aalclers. 2. The pvocess is clearly beiaxg driven by the City's desive to a-pprove this pif-oject orioe° to the March nth ballot initiative. We strongly object to this approach. • Connectivity We live in a unique community. Little Tuscany is part of the magic of Palm Springs. Not only has been it a joy to its residents for seventy years but it is a major local, national and international tourist attraction. People come from all over the world to view its architecture, a cluster of houses designed by a dozen different, famous architects, on the edge of a desert oasis, in the foothills of the mountains. When these tourists come, they spend money; on hotels, shops, restaurants and in so doing they help fill the coffers of the City's treasury. Outside these architectural splendors, the characteristics of Little Tuscany are its rural, winding streets, its privacy and the security that comes from a single point of ingress and egress. The insularity of the neighborhood, both in its architecture and its street pattern, contribute to its unique identity which, paradoxically, blends insularity with warmth and openness "a kind of cosmopolitan ruralness which • remains undisturbed even with the city center minutes away." All this the Planning Commission wishes to sacrifice to the abstract concept of interconnectivity. Interconnectivity on a human scale--bike paths, trails and pedestrian access-- is much to be desired. We want to share what we have but we do not want, in the name of vehicular connectivity, to see it destroyed. That would be to no one's benefit except, perhaps, the commuter, seeking to shave seconds off his journey and, at the same time, enjoy a blur of green foliage and a splash of color. In all this we have the support of the Architectural Advisory Committee who feel that Chino Canyon Road should be "the front door to their community which they have done so much to preserve." We know what we have and we would like to keep it that way. We do not oppose development of the site. We do not oppose emergency access to the site through Chino Canyon Road. We do oppose the deliberate destruction of one of the City's unique, aesthetically appealing neighborhoods. • LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON A 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY ENDANGERED i • Albert Frey's Loewy House, 1946, one of Little Tuscany's world-renowned gems. AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM LITTLE TUSCANY/CHINO CANYON PRESERVATIONISTS What You Should Know to Help Save Our Palm Springs Heritage. Palm Springs is at a crossroads. The quiet village environment that has attracted generations of visitors to relax here is disappearing. The growth,the traffic,the noise and Orange County-style building density also represent the proverbial goose slain for its golden egg. Palm Springs could lose the very qualities that foster its vital tourism market. Why come here if it is a mirror image of what people want to escape? The original Palm Springs mystique continues to exist in Little Tuscany and Chino Canyon. • LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHALLENGE A LEGACY IN JEOPARDY to the average desert dweller or visitor while a passionate milieu of international Little Tuscany&Chino Canyon are two architectural and design aficionados know of the most historic and architecturally- intimate details about the architects and the significant neighborhoods in the world of patrons who created these neighborhood modern architecture. legacies. Left blissfully undisturbed for some seven This is the story of these two neighborhoods decades,these neighborhoods are for the and why they must be protected and first time threatened by development that preserved. We hope it will be informative will forever diminish the harmony of homes and helpful to several important audiences: and surroundings so carefully wrought and nurtured. The citizens of Palm Springs, many of whom may not even Unlike other parts of this great tourist know about the historic legacy destination,Little Tuscany &Chino Canyon preserved in these are off the beaten path and without the usual neighborhoods. commercial enterprise and exposure. The decision-makers of Palm Springs including advisors to Planning and Management Staffs,the City Council and the Planning Commissioners. Local,national and international neighborhood and architectural preservation groups. � br • Schools of architecture,design and art history. Media covering architecture, . i urban planning and preservation along with trends These neighborhoods have always been and lifestyles. havens for self-contained individuals who live low-key and self-assured lives. Little Tuscany&Chino Threaded by narrow,rural streets,these Canyon residents who have neighborhoods are uncomfortable for those joined together to tell their who flaunt treasures,architectural or story before their fragile setting otherwise. is swept away. • There is no small irony in the fact that Little Tuscany&Chino Canyon are little known 2 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON A BRIEF HISTORY The hilly boulder-strewn land Los Angeles for four years where there comprising Little Tuscany and Chino was sufficient work. Canyon is just north of the original Palm Hicks became friends with P.T. Stevens Springs Village on the cone of Mount who had purchased land on the north San Jacinto. end of Palm Springs from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Stevens built the From its earliest known history, the area El Mirador Hotel and formed the appealed to independent personalities Whitewater Mutual Water Company who had a strong vision of their to bring irrigation water to the Village. environment and the homes they would Stevens helped Hicks develop build or inhabit, or in many cases both, subdivisions, selling much of the land where Vista Las Palmas and the Old Las Palmas neighborhood were later developed. Alvah Hicks was much more than a carpenter. He was a natural architect, drawing up original plans for the Ingleside Inn and designing many of the • homes he built in Old Las Palmas. i Hicks also bought land from the - ,<-s► —J Southern Pacific Railroad, including Little Tuscany when he obtained the Instead of appealing to those looking for rights to Snow Creek and Falls Creek architectural safety in cookie-cutter Canyons and purchased the Palm Valley housing, this area attracted those with Water Company in the early 1920s. The their own visions and the confidence and water company was founded by resources to make their statements. John Guthrie McCallum who helped settle Palm Springs in the 1890s. Hicks When these small neighborhoods began renamed the water operation"Pahn to attract serious residential building in Springs Water Company." the 1930s and 40s,the word quickly spread this was the place for architects to flicks also formed Builders Supply to build their own homes. provide for his own company as well as But, 1-list,there was Alvah Hicks. the other local builders. More luxurious homes such as the Alvah Hicks was a skilled carpenter Las Palmas estates built by Hicks when he homesteaded in Palm Springs in signaled the beginning of Palm Springs' • 1913. He found a few acres to the north celebrity heyday. Hicks also decided to end of Garnet and had to commute to begin building a few homes in what is 3 • now Little Tuscany after he visited Italy in 1934 and became enamored of the hilly Tuscany area near Florence. Tuscany,he believed, looked very much y m„ like the hilly rural canyon near his water company. Upon his return, Hicks built seven - Nr Tuscan style homes of stone and wood J along the winding narrow roads. " Views were exceptional high among the These neighborhoods were not just about boulders and olive trees, bougainvillea, 1950s "Pahn Springs Modern"homes so cypress, native palms, cacti and scrub popular today. These were custom built, softened the rocky terrain. representing varied schools of design, and evolved over many decades,not just Exceptional lighting and the natural the 1950s. mountain setting with its majestic colors and animated shadows quickly made this The area became a sanctuary for a magnet for those who valued privacy personal c visions that would attract many and environmental communion over the of the 20 Century's greatest architects nearby growing village social life. and notable residents and visitors from the worlds of art,politics and • During the depression,many of the 20tn entertainment. A work in progress,these Century's greatest architects discovered neighborhoods have evolved over seven Palm Springs which continued to attract decades. those captains of industry and film stars who were impervious to the economic Those who love architecture the world climate. over know more about Little Tuscany and Chino Canyon than most of the The patrons who could afford to build residents of Palm Springs. custom seasonal homes during these trying times enjoyed exceptional The November 2003 Vanity Fair resources and sophistication when it Magazine, the Smithsonian 2004 Palm came to design and architecture. Springs Home tours,best-selling books on modem Palm Springs architecture Talent and resources converged in Pahn and the formation of thousands of Springs where kindred spirits exercised worldwide conservation organizations independent vision incorporating new indicate how priceless these and often experimental"modem" neighborhoods are to the rest of the design, giving form to blueprints that world. The neighborhoods hope, by pleased them while reaching outward to educating our own community to this incorporate the terrain, lighting and priceless heritage, Palm Springs will views rather than to street-side realize why preservation is a community passersby. responsibility. 4 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON JUST ONE TREASURE IN A LEGACY OF ARCHITECTURE w i - I. _ 1puw ufu.'itiANxwlYWe:.2u.c+WW Nr..WY., 'One of the Five Most Important Houses of the Wh Century.' California State Polytechnic University at Pomona.-School of Architecture RICHARD NEUTRA KAUFMAN HOUSE, 1946 470 West Chino Canyon Road Little Tuscany,Palm Springs "Kaufman House. The Kaufinan House is Neutra's Masterpiece;the great architect and a bottomless pocket patron(Kaufman, of Falling Water Kauffman)come together in a house of unparalleled modernism and sophistication. Now fully restored, it will soon take its rightful place amongst the five most important houses of the 200 Century: Falling Water Roble House Gropius House • Kaufman House Gamble House" 5 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON THE LEGACY OF ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES ALVAH HICKS ALBERT FREY ■ Barrett House 1935 ■ Hill House 1940 Original Tuscan Villa 877 Panorama Road Tuscan Road Little Tuscany Little Tuscany ■ Loewy House 1946 With John Porter Clark and Designer Raymond Lowey 600 Panorama Road i Little Tuscany I l • Senator Magnuson House � '7 Original Tuscan Villa ,s Circa 1937 i Vista Road Little Tuscany • Carey House 1956, 1983 ■ Elvis Presley House 651 West Via Escuela Original Tuscan Villa Chino Canyon Circa 1937 Chino Canyon Road Little Tuscany JOHN PORTER CLARK I • J.P. Clark House 1939 Little Tuscany w. See Frey Loewy House. ■ Frelinghuysen House 1959 Remodel 707 Panorama Road Little Tuscany 6 JAMES McNAUGHTON MICHAEL BLACK ■ Kramer House Edna Root Shapiro House 1969 'The Arches' 1969 711 Panorama Road 595 Chino Canyon Road Little Tuscany Little Tuscany CRAIG ELLWOOD j Palevsky House 1968 1021 W. Cielo Drive i. Little Tuscany it --------- µ*tea ■ Hearst House 1963 701 Panorama Road Little Tuscany Palm Springs Pavane WALTER WHITE • Alexander House 1955 X 1011 W. Cielo Drive Little Tuscany E. STEWART WILLIAMS RICHARD NEUTRA Edris House 1953 1030 W. Cielo Drive Kaufmann House 1947 Little Tuscany • 470 W. Chino Canyon Road ---- ----- -- Little Tuscany EDWARD H. FICKETT • May House 1951 (Benny House) 424 W. Vista Chino Little Tuscany r r ? 7 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON VISIONARIES AND THEIR TREASURES MODERNISM & THE DESERT The connection among great 20`s Century architects and the Palm Springs area is •"� ° ' " `" fascinating to contemplate. The post-World War I clamor for change and the freedom offered in the unfettered desert environment had to be compelling to independent thinkers experiencing flappers, cubism,Bauhaus,Art Deco and such streamlined phenomena as flight and the -•�„_,,;�,..,_.,��.,+ Zeppelin. ' � n=rnn ALBERT FREY " " m�11 1- Swiss-born Albert Frey was 27 years old -- — and the first of Le Corbusier disciples to discover the California desert. He visited Palm Springs in 1930 and returned to New • �- -- York City. He was drawn back to Palm Springs in 1939 and lived here the rest of his the environment. Frey's break-through use long life. of modern industrial materials such as Fiberglass and aluminum in private homes Frey brought a rare architectural was every bit as exciting then as Frank sophistication to Palm Springs. During his Gehry's experimental forms are today. more than 60 years here Frey designed more than 200 structures,many of them RICHARD NEUTRA prominent. Richard Neutra was another European who The famous Tramway gas station, now the expressed his talent in the new post war City's new Visitor Center, is one striking West. He arrived in Los Angeles from example of geometric playfulness and a Vienna in 1929,eschewing a tradition of old salute to arrivals. Palm Springs City Hall, world elegance for simple post and beam the Aerial Tramway Valley Station,many construction intimately relating to the site's commercial buildings and private residences natural surroundings. are among his vast legacy. Among his most famous homes are his original Hill House, The Little Tuscany/Chino Canyon proximity 1940, and the Lowey House designed with to the mountain and the changing light was a his partner John Porter Clark. perfect location for Neutra to demonstrate his belief architecture should be responsive The Raymond Lowey House,tailored for the to space and time,showcasing a structural respected industrial designer, was typical of dimension of fleeting beauty created by light Frey's clean way of marrying design and and shadows. • 8 • Edgar Kaufmann Sr.was an exacting client It was to encompass two lots,including the when Neutra designed his 1946 canyon May House site,between Vista Chino and home, ,An experienced patron of superb Chino Canyon Roads at the south end of mid-century architecture,Kaufmann earlier Little Tuscany. Unfortunately, had hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design Kaufmann died before construction "Falling Water,"his highly-acclaimed could be started. "The Boulders" Pennsylvania hideaway. Unhappy with remains an historically important work Wright's new theories,Kaufmann hired oriented specifically to Little Tuscany and is Neutra instead for the Patin Springs home. archived by the City of Palm Springs. Kaufmann supplied Neutra,however,with many of the same craftsman who built JOHN PORTER CLARK "Falling Water." Clark was long associated with Albert Frey. Some architectural observers claim Clark specialized in the client-handling side of the business while Frey held up the design end. The implication was that Clark was a better client handler than architect. Not so says 1_ A Tony Merchell, architectural historian. Fr Clark, in fact was an architect's architect, according to Merchell. Clark was a superb planner who did the work that makes a project fly. Clark worked closely with Frey _ x and many other desert architects, allowing • a � '- them to take credit for the more visible aspects of architecture. Clark also deserves more credit for his own famous modern i home in Chino Canyon than previously t♦ attributed. The mid-century modern home for Clark and his bride is an excellent ry I' example of a great Frey/Clark collaboration. WILLIAM CODY kr, Cody shared a trait with many of his superb The completely-restored Kaufmann house architectural colleagues who practiced here. is one of the most acclaimed architectural Like Donald Wexler,Albert Frey and gems of the 20 Century.Magnificent E. Stewart Williams,Cody had no ambition photography by Julius Shulman first to work outside of the desert or to compete introduced this Little Tuscany home to the for professional status through publishing. world's architects and inspired many fans of exceptional mid-century architecture. Cody was an expansive over-the-top personality who loved to socialize. Cody FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT always had plenty of work and often surprised his architect friends when he could Ironically,Kaufmann himself soon decided instantly shift into a meticulous work mode he wanted yet a different house in the same no matter how hard he had been partying the Little Tuscany neighborhood and he night before. reconnected with Frank Lloyd Wright. • Wright completed plans for the new He produced elegant and original homes and residence which was called"The Boulders." was highly sought for country clubs and 9 • other buildings,such as the Spa Hotel. All - .-- ofthese buildings involved human inter- action. Ile also had great fun with the Googie style as exemplified in the destroyed Huddle Restaurant at Mesquite and Palm Canyon Drive. Architect James Cioffi plans k to rebuild a restaurant there as a tribute to Cody and the original Huddle at that site. MICHAEL BLACK Michael Black has been providing planning, community organization and architectural services since the late 1960's.His early His 711 Panorama Road home was built for professional life was spent in Palm Springs, Edna Root Shapiro,the eccentric and where he grew up surrounded by exceptional exacting heiress to the Simplicity Pattern architecture. fortune who later left her fortune to her dog. Never published,the home is very private A graduate of Cal Berkeley and USC School from the street. Once inside,the visitor is of Architecture,Black first worked for uplifted by its high ceilings, generous Williams and Williams.He designed several expanse,views and light. Palm Springs homes when he first went out on his own. They are the Edna Root Shapiro JAMES McNAUGHTON House,the Berg Hose and the Moore House. As a tenured professor,he taught design at "The Arches,"one of the most famous • the Southern California Institute of homes in Little Tuscany,presents a low-key Architecture(SCI-ARC)in Santa Monica. face to the passing world but delivers the drum of high ceilings with clerestory In 1983 he spent his sabbatical studying co- windows and a central living area housing and similar models in Sweden, surrounded by an open loggia. Dramatic Denmark,and Holland.His designs and arches are repeated poolside. consensus-based planning have received recognition from the American Institute of ---- - -- Architects and the American Platting Association and have appeared in periodicals including Time Magazine. Black's architectural design approach relieson strong client input and sensitivity to . functional, environmental/sustainability, _ e . social/community, cultural,psychological and economic issues.The diversity of his designs -* reflects each individual set of circumstances. Black designed Valley Oaks Village Co- housing in Chico,CA and Two Acre Wood Co-housing in Sebastopol, CA where he This home is a a signature McNaughton now lives and works. work.One is not surprised to learn that McNaughton also was a much-sought-after • Hollywood set designer.Another dramatic McNaughton home is the Little Tuscany 10 Panorama Drive villa known as the Hearst traveled to Morocco where homes of the home. This modem Palladian-style home affluent are built for privacy and security. sits on a hillside with a commanding The home presents an unobtrusive and panoramic view. Here McNaughton utterly simple line along the hillside with incorporated many architectural details from boulders incorporated into the exterior walls. San Simeon Castle,the home of George Hearst's father William Randolph Hearst. E. STEWART WILLIAMS CRAIG ELLWOOD Williams also exemplifies a natural law of the desert. Once an architect gets sand in his Ellwood was handsome and a naturally- toes,the sand exerts a powerful pull. In gifted architect who came from humble this case,the phenomena started with beginnings. He was well regarded among E. Stewart's architect father Harry who was California modernists but he was never brought to Palm Springs from Chicago by licensed. This brought considerable Julia Carrell to design the downtown Plaza. criticism from less successful licensed architects whose works never received the Julia Carrell's husband was the comptroller constant publishing exposure Ellwood's for National Cash Register and the couple work enjoyed,particularly in Arts and had spent many winters in Palm Springs Architecture. before Mrs. Carrell decided a centerpiece _ would enhance Palm Canyon Drive. The Plaza,with its original theatre, is now home to the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. Harry fell in love with Palm Springs and soon moved his practice here.Harry had two sons and each grew up to join the firm. Stewart was the first after he graduated from college. Later,the younger brother also became a partner in Williams and Williams after he returned from military service in a. 1946. There were few substantial residential commissions at the time and E. Stewart Williams worked with other local architects ,77 to design such longstanding commercial landmarks as the Tramway Mountain Station, Santa Fe Savings and Loan, and his crowning achievement The Palm Springs Intel founder, art collector and philanthropist Desert Museum. Max Palevsky met Ellwood in 1965 when the architect designed Scientific Data Williams,who had traveled to Sweden as a Systems headquarters in El Segundo. young man,was greatly influenced by the culture's respect for natural materials Palevsky bought what E. Stewart Williams including those found on a building site. said was the best site in Palm Springs. It is located at the very top of Cielo Drive where One of Williams' finest custom homes is Palevsky scored both privacy and sweeping located in Little Tuscany and was built for views. Searching for design ideas,the pair Marjorie and William Edris in 1954. 11 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON NEIGHBORHOODS FOR NOTABLES FROM ELVIS & ZSA ZSA TO Peter Conrad,who writes of Modern JFK Times, Modern Places: Life and Art in the Twentieth Century, cites Krenek's Little Tuscany& Chino Canyon have breakthrough Jonny Spielt Auf as the more than their share of celebrities to post WWI modern voice of music, a tout.Nothing could be more over-the-top voice so threatening to the Nazi cause than having bragging rights to Elvis that Hitler targeted Krenek, giving the Presley,the King himself, and the Gabor composer one more reason to leave girls: Magda, Zsa Zsa, Ava and their Europe. fabulous mama Jolic. This brilliant composer, who left an Unlike other star-studded desert roads, oeuvre of more than 240 works,moved however, Little Tuscany& Chino to the US in the late 30s during the same Canyon also are tied to international era many of Palm Springs' great celebrities who are more known the European-born architects first world over than in their own backyard. discovered Little Tuscany. This phenomenon is not unlike the worldwide fan club for the neighborhood's architects. Major case in point is Ernst Krenek the r post WWI Vienna-born composer who q is to 20'h Century composing what the neighborhood architects are to 20th Century architecture. Krenek moved to Palm Springs in 1966 after a brilliant career, including teaching music at Vassar and Princeton. Krenek died in Palm Springs on December 22, 1991. His remains were returned for burial in the City of Vienna. § The Krenek connection to Little Tuscany -•.1etlera :;', cl i,i is comparable in the music world to the �°i�i ru°�ec� ,l�atne„;•"' thousands of Shakespearean devotees who travel to Stratford on Avon every • _.. ,..._.._.._,.._..,_,__,. . year. He is much less well known here in Palm Springs. 13 Here are some of celebrities who lived in house. It was sold by the Presley Little Tuscany and Chino Canyon. and estate in 1979 to a Japanese are more well known locally: company. It was sold again in 2004. The new owner is an avid ■ Neighborhood celebrities who Presley fan who intends to resonate among older visitors maintain the estate as a showcase include: Jack Benny and Mary and tribute to the King of Rock Livingston who lived in the May and Roll House at Vista Chino and Chino Canyon Road for many years. The Glam Gabors congregated at Their six guest bedrooms with the very top of West Panorama private baths located behind their Road in a stunning property that home accommodated many overlooked a pristine apron of friends, children, spouses and rocks and scrubs at the very base grandchildren. of Mount San Jacinto. • Elvis Presley whooped it up with his retinue in a sprawling ranch house originally built in the The area was perfect. Remote 1930s at 845 Chino Canyon but really close to everything Road. In the 1960s, McDonald's important. Just a quick drive to founder Ray Kroc their favorite restaurant, bought the home and restored it. LeVallauris, Desert Museum and fun shops along Palm Canyon Drive. In its heyday, Palm ' Canyon Drive also had t Robinson, Bullocks Wilshire, Kr I.Magnin and Saks Fifth Avenue. Other famous actors and -- — -1 entertainers who made their homes in the neighborhoods Elvis Presley bought the four- include Marilyn Monroe, Joe bedroom home in 1970 when DiMaggio, Peter Lawford, Red Presley's marriage to Priscilla Skelton and musical genius, was ending. On two acres, it had Frederick Lowe. a pool and spectacular views and became known as Presley's parry 14 • Statesmen also liked the privacy and security of Little Tuscany ti and Chino Canyon. Prince Phillip of Great Britain, a president of Mexico, and the late President John F. Kennedy visited Little Tuscany. President Kennedy was so enamored he requested • Entrepreneurs and captains of architect/set designer James industry are legion in this little McNaughton to send his neighborhood. Besides Little Tuscany blueprints to the McDonald's Ray Kroc,there was White House at JFK's request. aviation genius Howard Hughes, Even the President of the United who often stashed three to five States wanted to have a getaway girlfriends in rented houses all in Little Tuscany. Jackie,who over Las Palmas and Little preferred her Virginia horse Tuscany,the May Company's farm, apparently did not concur. May family,publishing heir George Hearst, Phoebe Hearst and generous supporter of local charities, Rosalie Hearst. w" T � • a - Rey v Owl ; • 15 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON THE BOULDERS TRACT-A NEIGHBORHOOD THREAT Ikj. fir_ ._� , -�_ ,�•�, I�.,��� • �r"F .. ;.�� w� .in J - - row 7.3 1 ' ` I jrr Vol ,r Historic Legacy Endangered Proposed Tract Homes Threaten Tract Homes in the Wrong Place Historic Palm Springs Neighborhoods. Another intrusive, out-of-character and The current housing boom may be the potentially hazardous project is one beginning of a bust for historic and Wessman Development plans to build on architecturally significant Palm Springs buffer land between Little Tuscany and neighborhoods. Chino Canyon in these architecturally and historically significant Palm Springs Standards Disappearing neighborhoods. There is such a rush to build and such Irony in a Name great profits to be gained,precedents are being set in density,heights and Wessman Development originally intrusion on classic Palm Springs named the project Stoneridge. It is no neighborhoods: East Palm Canyon small irony Wessman has renamed it Drive at Araby, for example, now has The Boulders,the name of a home Frank Pintura,high-density non-descript Lloyd Wright designed for Ed townhouses as threshold to the now- Kaufmann,the same client who owned • obscured funky and beloved old Araby Falling Water,the most famous home neighborhood. Wright ever designed. The plan to build 16 • The Boulders in Little Tuscany was environment so carefully selected by the abandoned when Kaufmann died. architects. There are other potential changes that . drastically alter the character of the i neighborhoods. Loss of Rural Character The rural character will no longer exist since plans call for the widening of the x " "• area's narrow natural rural roads. Increased Traffic/Safety Concerns Residents now find it ironic that a name Increased traffic is a safety and privacy connected to Wright would be used in a concern should any of the key project so destructive of an ambiance neighborhood roads be designated for prized by Wright and other of the access and egress to The Boulders. world's leading 201h Century architects. Football-Field Size Sections • Instead of being built to fuse organically „ with the site and surroundings like neighboring homes are, the new tract would consist of some 46 homes primarily on pads perched on identical football-field size cantilevered sections. These sections would staircase the rocky apron between West Chino Canyon potential Flooding Disaster Road on the south and Sanborn Way on the north. The Desert Water Agency stores over 20 million gallons of water in five tanks 20th Century Homes Altered Forever bordering the site. Three at the top of the site hold approximately 7.3 million If the,project is built, many of the gallons. The two at the bottom have architectural treasures overlooking the capacities of 1.5 and 12 million gallons. site will be altered forever. The great architects who designed these homes It is obvious that there are significant focused away from the streetscape to the risks to building homes directly below canyon views of wild natural boulders and adjacent to such huge water tanks. spewing down the mountain apron. To build homes under such large water tanks in an area that experiences The new project would subject these earthquakes is even more irresponsible. • important homes to a tract development rather than to the natural mountain 17 Where Boulders Come From Liability Shift • Regardless of the water tanks, the area Any damages from drain blockage,poor naturally experiences cascades of water maintenance, flooding resulting from sheeting off the mountain along with earthquakes or water tank failure sliding mud and boulders whenever would be bom by the Water Agency there is a major storm. These so-called and/or the City, two deep-pocket "hundred-year floods"sometimes agencies involved in waivers and the happen in multiples as they did in the approval process. late 70s and early 80s. Over time,these storm runoffs have deposited the Construction Distress boulders characterizing this sloping site. The construction period itself will not be as permanently damaging as the blocking of views and the change in neighborhood ambiance. Yet this construction period could last '- xt`{ several years if Wessman Construction proceeds in phases typical of this type of x ti x. development. Constant construction noise and --- rumbling trucks echoing off the mountains and through the canyon will Threat of Structural Defects rob homeowners of months and perhaps years of peaceful enjoyment of their Earthquakes are not the only triggers for homes. a breach in the water tanks. New housing would be threatened should any Health Risks of Airborne Dust tank at,the uppermost point give way due to a structural defect. Residents also will have to deal with airborne dust, a major desert Today this open area is a not just a construction hazard when sand is scenic buffer, it is a safety back-up as disturbed. This problem will be well in the event of major storms and compounded by the proposal to crush earthquakes. over one half million tons of boulders on Water Tank Maintenance site Airborne dust is micro size and settles Desert Water Agency drains these tanks deep in the lungs. It is on a regular basis to maintain the water unhealthy for all but can be life quality and to examine the integrity of threatening for anyone suffering from the tanks. Wessman Development is emphysema,heart disease or general incorporating a storm drain and retention pulmonary problems. It is also ponds to provide a way for water to dangerous for newborns and especially drain without damaging the proposed premature babies. homes below. 18 LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON RECOMMENDATIONS THE IDEAL SOLUTION The ideal solution to this threat to the With the world of art giving these adjacent neighborhoods is an outright neighborhoods a big thumb's up, it would denial by the City of Palm Springs or a be ironic and embarrassing for refusal to grant easements by Desert these neighborhoods to be degraded right Water Agency. in their own hometown. A commitment by all public agencies We realize the project could still go involved, along with the city's site forward. Just in case, we have compiled preservation commission, could protect our fast of recommendations. This is these wonderful mountain foothill where we draw our lines in the sand. neighborhoods for the enjoyment of future generations. There should be THE COMPROMISE: something left of the Palm Springs that OUR LINES IN THE SAND attracted daring clients and innovative architects to this winter haven of mid- The City should require an • century architecture in spite of today's Environmental Impact Report to building boom. provide full disclosure and analysis of all cumulative impacts and The books,tours and lectures extolling alternatives analysis. these neighborhoods and drawing There shall be no rock crushing on sophisticated visitors from the world over site continue to grow. The number of homes shall not The New York Times cited this trove of exceed 40. On this unique site,too architecture in its December spread on many houses lead to benching. Pahm Springs. Vanity Fair Magazine Benching mandates rock crushing. wrote about our 20'h Century architecture in its November 2003 issue. The • Fewer houses would allow more Smithsonian Institution brought another cul de sacs and larger lots which tour group to Palm Springs in early 2004. would permit boulders to be Homes designed by the modernists are pushed aside rather than trucked being snapped up all over Southern offsite and/or crushed. California for an average of 25% • Integrate project with boulder premium, including those in designated strewn hillside site. Reduce slope historic districts. Palm Springs is the heights, benching and terracing to hottest,however, of this modernist 15 feet and under. market. If a road borders the northern • perimeter,the road should be at grade and there should be a 100 ft 19 set back from the property safe way for draining and on-site boundary flow in the event of a breach and potential disaster to the • If houses border the northern neighborhoods. perimeter,they should be built at This plan must consider grade or grades sufficient to responsibility and liability issues preserve the view corridors of once the project is completed and existing properties the developer is no longer involved. • No routine vehicular access should be allowed onto Chino Canyon To prevent residents of The Road on the south or Sanborn on Boulders from petitioning for the north except for emergency gating as soon as they take over purposes. the association the project should be conditioned to prevent future • The two existing communities and gating. the proposed new project should be integrated by a system of Due to negative impacts of other pedestrian trails and bike paths. desert projects started but left unfinished for years between • In conformance with the market fluctuations,the neighborhood's rural character, neighborhood insists that the City there should be no widening of require a substantial completion Chino Canyon Road. bond from the developer. • • Building heights,including The neighborhoods expect close architectural features,are not to communications between the exceed 18 feet. developer,the City and designated neighborhood representatives in • The neighborhoods are order to mitigate noise,dust, unalterably opposed to mass construction traffic and other grading. construction impacts. • No construction traffic should be permitted on either Chino Canyon Road or Sanborn • Project access will be allowed only through the development's main entry at Via Escuela. • Tanks containing over 20 million of gallons of water are at the top of the project and at the bottom over Chino Canyon & Little Tuscany homes. There must be an engineering plan to prevent them from being damaged during the construction phase,to provide a 20 This brochure was produced on behalf of the: COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LITTLE TUSCANY & CHINO CANYON NEIGHBORHOODS 440 West Chino Canyon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262-2906 Tel: (760) 416 1072 Fax: (760) 323 0880 e-mail: litdetuscanvna.yahoo.com visit our website at: hit 2://Utdetuscanypalmsprings homestead com/index html • This brochure is for educational use only and may not be used for any commercial purpose. Unauthorized reproduction of this brochure, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden. February 15, 2004 • Revised January 24, 2005 21 • The Case for an EIR • There is currently sufficient knowledge, evidence and awareness regarding potentially significant impacts that the City should require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for this project. • We have requested an EIR since January 2004 to insure that potential impacts would be fully disclosed, analyzed and reported. • A Mitigated Negative Declaration is applicable only if the city `finds on a basis of the whole record before it that NO substantial evidence exists supporting a fair argument that the project would have a significant effect on the environment..." • CEQA says that if there is ANY substantial evidence in the record of an unmitigated significant impact, an EIR is required -- even if there is extensive other evidence in the record that the project will not have this level of impacts. • The city has thus far concluded that there is NO substantial evidence in any category. We disagree: 1. Aesthetics a. See our brochure, the recently completed city historic site inventory listing the historic homes in the neighborhood • which provides evidence of the neighborhood aesthetic, the letter from architectural historians and experts Barbara Lambrecht and Peter Morruzi. Architectural Historian Barbara Lamprecht, M.Arch o "Despite their essential uniformity, while the design of the Boulders' homes per se appears sufficient to complement the design of their northerly and southerly neighbors, its platforms of unnaturally manufactured slopes created with deep cuts in the land undermines any attempt at architectural diversity or ecological sensitivity." o "The neighborhoods of Chino Canyon and to a greater extent Little Tuscany make a significant contribution as a group to the ecology of Palm Springs, both as a geography and as a city. Though articulated differently, the houses are sited with remarkable sensitivity, harnessing the native landscape to great effect, complementing its wildness without destroying it." Peter Moruzzi Architectural Historian, Founding Chair of the Palm Springs Modern Committee o "Several of these architects have achieved national • and international acclaim, including Albert Frey, Craig Ellwood and E. Stewart Williams. Each of the houses they designed in the Little Tuscany area • are unique statements tied to the precise challenges of the site. Two of these houses, the Carey/Pirozzi House and the Edris House are especially noteworthy for the way that they blend into the existing environment between the boulders of the alluvial fan." o "In summary, in order to adequately address the significant direct and indirect impacts of the proposed Boulders project that were ignored by the Initial Study/Mitigated negative Declaration to historic resources within Little Tuscany, including the historic Little Tuscany neighborhood itself, under CEQA guidelines full environmental review is clearly required." b. Clearly two architectural historians qualify as substantial evidence and expert opinion supporting a fair argument of potential significant impacts to aesthetics. 2. Noise & Vibration a. The IS on page 90 says that the nearest structures are located 500-600 feet away, well beyond any notable vibration. This is not true. The DWA tanks are within • 100 feet of the proposed crushing operation. Common sense tells you that these tanks could be significantly impacted from vibration to the point of causing hard to detect cracks or loosening of foundations which could result in leaks and or eventual tank failure. This is a substantial risk not dealt with in the IS and unmitigated. b. There is a clear common sense argument that placing a quarry operation between two residential neighborhoods for 9-12 months will result in a potential significant noise and vibration impact c. First person accounts from experience of neighbors living within 1000 feet of a rock crusher at the old Canyon Hotel site verify the noise and vibration that result from a similar operation d. We have been assured (verbally) that vibration will not be a factor—in direct contradiction to the experience of residents at Murray Canyon. 3. Air quality a. The IS has conveniently concluded that the emissions from this project have been included in regional growth projections for the entire Coachella Valley and thus are • indiuidually less-than-significant. b. The site is heavily strewn with boulders. There is a substantial body of anecdotal evidence from other developers' ex4JQrience to support a • conclusion that a substantial amount of rock will still need to be disposed offsite. (Personal conversations with contractors working in the neighborhood) c. For Crescendo, in the case of NOx, typical equipment would result in impacts at 92.2% of threshold air impacts. According to the Crescendo IS, if material is hauled away NOx emissions would be above accepted levels and therefore significant. d. For Boulders, NOx is also 92.2% for typical equipment against a threshold of 100. If you put the two projects together, which they will be if approved, the cumulative impacts are well above the threshold for NOx alone. Add PM10 for both projects together and again you are over the threshold of significance. e. In addition, if even if Crescendo and Boulders do not have rock crushing or site grading at the same time, there will be simultaneous work performed. There will also be construction work from up to five other projects in the neighborhood. These air impacts will add up to a potentially significant impact. f. If evaluated in context of cumulative projects the • potential for significance is obvious. g. A common sense argument can easily be made using existing evidence in the record and known contemplated impacts from other projects in the area that a significant air impact is likely. 4. Land use & planning a. The IS states " ...in exchange for the modified standard the PD zone provides the City extensive controls over design including architecture..." The City already has such controls. This is an exchange of no value, which is why the PD is inappropriately being used for this project and the City land use and planning policies are significantly and negatively being impacted. b. Policy 5.12.1 page 84— "the project responds to the sloping natural terrain on site with a series of stepped building pads separated by manufactured slopes" c. How can manufactured slopes be described as `responding to the sloping natural terrain'? This policy is not being met and a significant impact finding is the correct conclusion. 5. Hydrology • a. Three water tanks holding over 7 million gallons of water sit directly above the project. • b. The IS devotes one sentence to the DWA tank blow-off water and potential overflow of DWA reservoirs. There is no definition of how much blow off water and how much overflow of the reservoirs the project "designed to accommodate". c. What happens in the event of a failure of the tanks? d. Were the drainage and retention basins sized to accommodate a complete failure of the tanks? Are those tanks seismically designed to handle all the moving and shaking from the project construction? e. Should homes even be placed underneath that much water anyway? How do we know it's safe? f. The Committee repeatedly expressed its concern over these issues to the Council sub-committee and cited them as a justification for an EIR. g. Mayor pro tem Chris Mills assured the Committee that these issues would be dealt with in great detail in the IS. h. What the Initial Study offers is one brief, unsubstantiated sentence which makes no attempt to deal with the above • issues. i. The IS is inadequate on these points and does not consider all potential impacts or alternatives. 6. Drainage a. How drainage will be handled remains a mystery. b. First there were two retention basins, now there is one. Where does the water intended for the second basin end up now? c. Drainage plans call for water to be diverted to the North and South sides of the project. In the event of overflow or storm drain clog or failure the overflow will pass onto Chino Canyon Rd and the homes directly to the south of the project. d. With over 7 million gallons of water sitting above the project and all storm and on-site water flow proposed for the storm drain and pipe the potential for overflow and/or failure exists. There is no way to mitigate this potentially significant impact. e. The project could be re-designed to run drainage through • the middle of the project. In the event of failure the impact would be to the project itself instead of the existing neighborhoods. 7. Public services/utilities • a. DWA will have to improve existing service to the project in order to provide water. SC13-1 page 98 —when will the system improvements to pumping equipment and pressure lines as required by DWA be disclosed and studied? What are they? b. Potential impacts of system improvement are a part of the project and have not been considered. c. DWA will have to add another reservoir tank above the project in order to serve it. This is not disclosed or analyzed and impacts have not been considered. d. The IS is inadequate on these points. 8. Cumulative impacts a. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines state that "if more than one project is present in the same area, cumulative impacts should be considered."There are multiple projects contemplated, currently underway and in various stages of approval and development: 1. Boulders — Little Tuscany & Chino Canyon 2. Crescendo - Chino Canyon neighborhood 3. Royal Desert Palms Court—off Vista Chino 4. Las Palmas Heights 9 lots —on Monte Vista • 5. Rose Avenue — 2 new residences 6. 5 acre parcel at the end of Cielo Drive just opened escrow 7. Tuscany Heights 8. Edith Toor TTM 28668 6 lots b. No cumulative impact analysis was conducted. 9. Alternatives a. An EIR would require study of alternatives. b. For eighteen months, in spite of neighborhood protests, the developer clung stubbornly to his concept of uniform, parallel, benched terraces with houses all facing in the same direction. The City and the residents were told: "This is the only way it can be done." c. When this concept was criticized by the Architectural Advisory Committee and rejected by the Planning Commission, the developer suddenly produced three major design changes in three weeks. d. The potential for alternative designs has not yet been exhausted. e. Highest and best use 1. Project conceived at a time when economic conditions apparently supported 50 or so • homes priced at $600,000 (generally the original proposal) 5 2. Original plan would generate gross sales approximately $30 million. That was economically feasible. 3. Current conditions are much different. 4. Developer has upgraded product price point to level of$1.4 to $2.6 million but still insist on shoving 46 home sites onto the property. 5. Current proposal yields $76 million for 38 homes at $2 million plus $4 million for 8 lots at $500,000 (conservative estimates) - $80 million total. 6. Highest and best use analysis must consider not only the use that provides the greatest economic return to the developer, but also that use which is environmentally, socially, legally and politically viable and achievable. 7. Imagine a plan that could return similar economic yields while eliminating the need for a rock crusher, mass grading and massive cuts into the hillside and reduce traffic by half and avoid neighborhood opposition and potential • lawsuits. 8. Opportunity exists to develop the site responsibly and with environmental sensitivity to respond to impacts and concerns. 9. These options should be pursued. �Com�cluvunrn s The couneil has wide discretion regarding when to require an LIl' The e-dstence of com-munity controversy is enough to require an i LR There exists significant co�anr nru.nity controversy over the Boulders A!vF' evidence that there IVLAOY IBE significant inn-pacts that cannot be nnitigated argues for an TEIR There, is evidence and there are fair arguments that there nlay be significant impacts resulting I'ro_rn this project There a-,°e alternatives that have not been considered. An EIR, vrou1C1 require alternatives to be exPll®red. An EI R, should be mandated by the Council 6