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Home My WebLink AboutPP-CUP-EA-CZ 16-280 - Supplmnt InfoRECEIVED CITY CLERK'S OFFICE PALM DESERT, CA 2018 MAR 16. PM 1: 24 3-15-2018 To: City of Palm Desert, Planning, Community Development Mayor, Sabby Jonathan Council Members: Susan Marie Weber Mayor, Pro Tem Jan Harnik Gina NBstande Kathleen Kelly From: Barbara Powers, 76918 Kentucky Ave Subject: PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE, PROJECT 69 CONDO'S OLD EXECUTIE COURSE PALM DESERT COUNTY CLUB OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT: 1. The OPEN SPACE ACTION COMMITTEE HAS GATHERED MORE THAN 678 PETITIONS SIGNED ,BY HOMEOWNERS BOTH ON THE iEXEOUTIVE COURSE AND SURROUNDING STREETS. TI#ESE WERE SU/ MI41ED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BUT AGAIN HERE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THEY STATE THEY ARE AGAINST ANY ZONE CHANGE OR ANY BUILDING ON THE OPEN SPACE. We know from gathering our {ae.titions that .about SO% of ow- homeowners are between 60 to 90 years old. Figures are available from US Census. Many live on fixed income or some even on just Social Security. The US Census,, 2016 said the averageindividual salary is $35,000. They planned and bought their homes years ago to find a special place for peace and quiet on a beautiful golf course. They paid extra for the view lot. This project will totally disrupt their lives. The noise will be terrible. How would you like to live with road 20 feet from your property with cars, FED.EX, 'UPS, gas, water and electric companies trucks traveling close to your bedrooms that all face the open space? We already have those on the front streets. This does not even included cars from the 69 condos'? 2. I PERSONALLY OBJECT TO ANY ZONE CHANGE or ANY BUILDING ON THE OPEN SPACE, OLD EXECUTIVE COURSE. This infill project does not even fit the General Plan for Palm Desert. Our homeowners are not surrounded by R2 zoning. This project should not have ever made it to the Architectural Process. "THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ZONING IS TO SEGREGATE USES THAT ARE THOUGHT TO BE INCOMPATABLE. IN PRACTICE, ZONING USED TO PREVENT NEW DEEVELOPMENT FROM INTERFERING WITH EXISTING USES AND/OR TO PRESERVE THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY." WITH 4 FENCES, MULTIPLE TREES, 69 CONDOS' AND A ROAD CLOSE TO HOMEOWNER'S HOMES THIS PROJECT WILL SEPARATE AND DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY. I was told by the city engineer that ONE OF THE FOUR fences was to keep the cars from coming around the curve in the road TO STOP THEM FROM COMING ON TO OUR PROPERTY. coming on DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT 4 CARS WENT THROUGHA 6 FEET BLOCK WALL FENCE AT HOVLEY,LN ANDKANSAS? THE CITY°BOUGHT TI4EI4OUSE AND PUT IN A=RETENTION AREA. 3. In 2005 the city allowed a grading plan to re -design the Executive Golf Course. (ROUGH GRADING PLAN TRACK 31836 SHEET 15 OF 21. FOUR FEET OF DIRT WAS ADDED TO THE DESIGN BETWEEN KENTUCKY AND OKLAHOMA, ALSO BETWEEN KENETUCKY AND CALIFORNIA. That map shows 200 feet above sea level at the top of the hill. If this is no longer a golf course, that dirt should be REMOVED, and the property restored to the original OPEN SPACE and height. if this project is approved and the dirt removed, the pads would be much' lower, and some views might be saved. 4. OBJECTION ABOUT TRAFFIC AND A REQUEST FOR A NEW STUDY HAS BEEN IGNORED. Any one that lives in Palm Desert Country can attest to the increase in traffic. This is before any new homes are built. California Ave has been so busy that sometimes in the morning there are 11 to 15 cars waiting to turn on Fred Waring. Sometimes they are sitting through 2 lights of 3 minutes each. The Previous study was done for 1 day (2016) and at the time several of us objected to Ryan Stendell via email. WE REQUEST A NEW TRAFFIC STUDY BE DONE IF THE PROJECT I APPROVED. 4A OBJECTION TO THE TYPE OF TREES. MITIGATION OF WILD LIFE, RETENTION AREAS. Studies were made of the type of trees and objections to them were presented to the ARC Committee via Power Point Presentations. The only compromise was that the Landscape Architect would meet with us to show where staked trees would be placed 60 days after approval of the project. These types of trees shed pods and seeds. WE STILL OBJECT TO THESE AS THEY WILL BE IN EVERYONE'S POOLS. A POWER POINT WAS PRESENTED TO EACH PLANNING COMMISSIONER ON THE WILD LIFE ON THE OPEN SPACE. This was not addressed, and we were told monies would be given to a RiversideEntity to .nitigate this item. WHAT A SHAME, THESE CREATURES WILL ALL DISAPPEAR, THEY HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 50 YEARS. A STUDY WAS DONE ON ALL THE RETENTION AREAS PROPOSED FOR THIS PROJECT. WE OBJECT TO THEM. We were told it is necessary for water drainage. IF THE OPEN SPACE HAD NOT HAD THE 4 FEET OF DIRT ADDED, THERE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN A DRAINAGE PROBLEM. We have owned our [rouse since 1983 and there was never a problem until they closed the course and grass was gone? Appraisers of property suggest that if you live next to a retention area, your property value will decrease by 10%. THIS ITEM WAS ALSO IGNORED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. THE PICTURES USED IN THE RETENTION REPORT WERE VERY DISTURBING. The City said they belong to Park and Recreation. However, the one at Hovley and Kansas belongs to the city. 5. CITY OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD ALL OF US THAT WE MUST ACCEPT CHANGE. WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT? SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE SAID YOU WORK FOR US. WE VOTE FOR YOU . WE EXPECT YOU TO PROTECT US and OUR WAY OF LIFE. ALL WE ARE ASKING IS THAT YOU: PLEASE VOTE NO ZONE CHANGE. Molly McNeice-Graham & Don Graham 76907 Oklahoma Avenue Palm Desert, Ca. 92211 Open space is a precious commodity and resource. RECEIVED CITY CLERK'S OFFICE PALM DESERT C A 28111 MAR 22 PM I : 00 We are pleading that you, the City Council, do not approve the proposal for this open space to be rezoned in order to allow this development project with its current plan. Our home on Oklahoma has a back yard facing south & it abuts up to the "old" executive golf course. On a daily basis, because of this open space: We enjoy wondrous views of the mountains to the south & to the west. We enjoy the wild birds: Canadian geese every winter, the ducks that come and feed in our back yard, the gold finch, doves, and hawks. We enjoy the quiet and solitude this space provides. The proposed development will eliminate the open space that has given us and the community so much joy. Although the proposed condominium complex seems to be attractive on its own, it is an intrusion on our current community that has been in place for over 40 years. Please don't rush into approving the rezoning and development plan as it exists today. The open space cannot be retrieved once developed. Although proposals for utilizing this open space for recreational or other noninvasive use have been declined in the past by the city, perhaps it would be prudent to wait and leave our options open for future ideas. The city of Palm Desert continues to grow and expand. 20 years from now we might need open space like this one. The immediate gain the city might gain by incoming taxes seem small vs. the benefits of preserving this open space. If indeed this land must be developed, we believe additional accommodations for the current homeowners are worth considering and evaluating. This would allow us to continue to enjoy some of the scenery and wildlife this space currently provides. For example, a few of the intrusions are: The proposed grading will be too high and will wipe out our views of the glorious mountains once the new condos are built. A compromise to not fill in with additional dirt would help preserve some of our views. The roof lines are too high. These heights will block our views. Change the design so that the places on roofs that have 18' height are lowered. The road entrances into the proposed condos are far too narrow, and infringe too close to the existing homes. Road entries need to be revised. The internal roads of the complex are too close to existing homes. Road placements need to be revised. The proposed pickle ball courts will be far too noisy and annoying for miles around. Eliminate all pickle ball courts form the plan. The developer has promised he will accommodate the current homeowners with several options for the homeowner to decide individually on walls vs. fences, what type of trees to plant, etc. Are these promises in writing? Please do not approve the rezoning and the proposed development today. Sincerely, Molly McNeice-Graham://-f/-t 2r_ `l 17-� Wiz./-2 (e Don Graham -ate /r