HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 6 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES |
California State law requires all general plans include conservation and open space
elements as defined in the Sections §65302(d) and §65302(e). An open space element
must contain goals and policies to protect and maintain state natural resources, such
as water, soil, air quality, wildlife, minerals, and prevent wasteful resource exploitation
and destruction. It must also contain goals and policies for managing open space
areas, including undeveloped lands and outdoor recreation areas. This element
syndicates requirements and topics of both the conservation and open space element.
Drought, climate change, and development pressure on environmental resources are
key issues within the City of Palm Desert. The California Department of Finance
estimated growth of 9,262 residents between 2000 and 2014, or 22.5% growth in the
Coachella Valley Preserve, located in the
northern Palm Desert Sphere of Influence
Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Mountains, located
within the Palm Desert southern Sphere of
Influence
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city of Palm Desert. Significant population growth throughout Riverside County has led
to increased development pressure in and around the city. Without proper planning,
new development can contribute to further depletion of limited water and energy
resources, increased air and water pollution, and negative impacts on biological
resources. Water resources are a basic and necessary component of inhabitance, and
a community’s survival may be endangered if water needs cannot be met. As drought
continues to plague Southern California, it is vital for Palm Desert officials to develop
new policies and programs to conserve and protect the city’s water resources.
Planning policies that promote conservation, efficiency, environmental protection, can
prevent and mitigate these threats. Following are summaries of the important natural
resources that need to be taken into consideration as the city experiences new growth
and development.
Increasing demand by a growing population on a limited water supply in the Coachella
Valley has led to a greater urgency for additional water conservation and efficiency.
The City’s Water-Efficient Landscaping Ordinance, adopted as part of the California
Water Conservation Landscaping Act of 1990, established minimum water-efficient
landscaping requirements for all new and rehabilitated public and private landscape
projects.
The City strongly encourages conservation of water in the form of water-efficient
landscaping and irrigation design, as well as water-conserving home appliances and
fixtures. The City plays an important role in the long-term protection of this essential,
finite and valuable resource.
Palm Desert water supply sources include the Whitewater River, which runs west to
east through the center of the city, ultimately flowing into the Salton Sea. All other
waterways in the city lie south of the Whitewater River and drain from the Santa Rosa
and San Jacinto mountains. Waterways in the City include Palm Valley Stormwater
channel, Ramon Creek, Cat Creek, Bruce Creek, Dead Indian Creek, Ebbens Creek,
Grapevine Creek, and Carrizo Creek. In 2013, the annual water balance for the West
Valley portion of the Whitewater River sub-basin was negative. Imported water may
offset groundwater overdraft in a particular year. However, on a long-term basis,
diminishing water supplies will continue to be a challenge for Palm Desert.
The Coachella Valley Water District provides domestic water services to Palm Desert
using wells to extract groundwater from the Whitewater River sub-basin. The
Whitewater River sub-basin supply consists of a combination of natural runoff, inflows
from adjacent basins, returns from groundwater, recycled water, and imported water
use. The supply is supplemented with artificial recharge with imported State Water
Project Exchange and the Colorado River water. The natural supply of water to the
northwestern part of the Coachella Valley is not keeping pace with the basin outflow
due mainly to large consumptive uses created by the resort-recreation economy and
Aerial view of Palm Desert golf course
green and desert habitat
Credit: New York Times
Whitewater River Basin
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permanent resident population. Much of the irrigation needs are met by annual
deliveries of Colorado River water through the Coachella Canal.
Palm Desert has taken positive steps towards mitigating impacts of climate change
and strives to remain at the forefront of this issue within Riverside County. Climate
change poses a threat to the health and safety of all residents across the region, state
and globe. California has adopted the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requiring
statewide climate planning—SB 375— which necessitates sustainable land use and
transportation patterns at the regional and local level.
The Coachella Valley Multispecies Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP) protects
240,000 acres of open space covering 27 special-status species of plants and animals.
The CVMSHCP strives to safeguard significant habitat linkages and wildlife corridors,
while also enhancing infrastructure without environmental conflicts. The City of Palm
Desert is the signatory to the CVMSHCP with other participants including Riverside
County, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm
Springs, Rancho Mirage, the Coachella Valley Water District, Imperial Irrigation
District, Coachella Valley Association of Governments, and the California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans). Much of the southern sphere of influence (SOI) is part of
the CVMSHCP Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains Conservation Area. Several
existing state and federal conservation lands are within the planning area.
Palm Desert is sensitive to preserving all biological resources through protective
measures and awareness. Using database research from multiple federal, state, and
local sources, special species within the City of Palm Desert have been identified.
Categorized as candidate, sensitive, or special-status species are those that are at
potential risk or actual risk to their persistence in a given area or across their native
habitat. Some of these species have been known to occur within the city of Palm
Desert, while others have a possible occurrence. California statutes (FGC Section 3503,
4700, 5050, 5515) afford “fully protected” status to species that have been identified
as endangered. In Palm Desert this includes 13 protected birds, 8 protected mammals,
5 protected reptiles, and 10 protected fish species. California statutes (FGC Section
3503, 4700, 5050, 5515) afford “fully protected” status to species tha t have been
identified as endangered. Based on data obtained from the California Native Plant
Species (CNPS) inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants in California (2014), 10
special-status plant species are known to occur in the Planning Area, while an
additional 12 species were determined to have the potential to occur within the city or
its Sphere of Influence.
Within the city and Sphere of Influence (SOI) boundary, one habitat, known as the
Desert Fan Palm Oasis, was identified in the California Natural Diversity Database
(CNDDB) query as a locally sensitive terrestrial natural community. Within the city, this
habitat occurs in discrete patches associated with springs or other perennial water
sources in the canyons of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains. The majority of
the palm oases are not threatened by development because they either occur in
isolated canyons, or are surrounded by protected land.
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Palm Desert is located within the Coachella Valley and the broader Colorado Desert
region. The region has a rich cultural history. Although Palm Desert is a “new”
community, it is part of a region that has been occupied by humans for thousands of
years. Archaeological evidence indicates that a large number of settlements and
rancherias were established in the Coachella Valley region during the prehistoric
period. In more recent history, the region was occupied by a Native American group
known as the Cahuilla. Additional details on the history of the region can be found in
Cultural Resources Technical Background Report located in Volume II, Existing
Conditions Report.
There are a number of known cultural and historical resources located within Palm
Desert. However, only one-third of the city has been included in a cultural resource
study, leaving at least two-thirds of the city unsurveyed for cultural resources. Areas
surveyed for cultural resources are illustrated in Figure 6.1.
The City of Palm Desert Cultural Resources Preservation Committee maintains the
Palm Desert Register, a listing of historical landmarks within the city. A total of seven
landmarks are located within the city limits (Table 6.1).
Name Description Location
Historical Society of Palm
Desert/Palm Desert Fire
Station
Ranch Vernacular-style
building
72-861 El Paseo
Shadow Mountain Golf
Club
First golf course in Palm
Desert
73-800 Ironwood
Portola Community
Center)
First community library in
Palm Desert
45-480 Portola Avenue
Sandpiper
Condominiums, Circles 11
& 12
Multi-family residential
buildings
El Paseo
Palm Desert Community
Church
City of Palm Desert’s first
community church
45-630 Portola Avenue
Schindler House for
Marion Toole
Single-family residence 44-870 Cabrillo Avenue
Randall Henderson House Single-family residence;
Home of Randall
Henderson, one of the
founders of Palm Desert
74-135 Larrea Street
The City currently reviews development proposals for their potential impacts to
archaeologically and historically significant resources and may require additional
studies if the potential for damage to resources exists. As future development
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proposals are received, they will be evaluated, and the need for site-specific cultural
resource assessments will be determined. This section sets forth policies aimed to
preserve the city’s cultural heritage and help perpetuate it for future generations.
The city is categorized as within the Mineral Resources Zone 3 (MRZ-3). This zone
includes areas containing known mineral deposits that may qualify as mineral
resources, which could be considered a resource. MRZ-3 areas are considered to have
a moderate potential for the discovery of economic mineral deposits. Areas within the
city may contain mineral deposits that may qualify as mineral resources.
Palm Desert is located within the Salton Sea Air Basin, which includes the central
portion of Riverside County and all of Imperial County to the southeast. The climate is
typical of a desert regime, with large daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature
and relatively high annual average temperatures. High temperatures frequently
exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) for the summer months. During the winter,
temperatures can drop to near freezing (and below freezing at higher elevations).
The weather of the area is governed by large-scale warming and sinking of air in the
semi-permanent subtropical high-pressure center over the Pacific Ocean. The high-
pressure ridge blocks most mid-latitude storms, except in the winter when the high-
pressure ridge is weakest and farthest south. The coastal mountains prevent the
intrusion of the cool, damp air found in California’s coastal regions. Throughout the
year, average daily relative humidity is low, as are average rainfall values (only three
inches per year). Most desert moisture arrives from infrequent warm, moist and
unstable air masses from the south.
The flat terrain and strong temperature differentials created by intense heating and
cooling patterns produce moderate winds and deep thermal circulation systems. As a
result, the general dispersion of local air pollution is greater than in the coastal basins
where polluted inversion layers may remain for long periods of time.
The status of the Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea air basin with respect to
attainment with the CAAQS (State Standard) and NAAQS (Federal Standard) is
summarized in Table 6.2. The Riverside County portion of the Salton Sea Air Basin, in
which Palm Desert is located, is a non-attainment area for both the federal and state
standards for ozone and PM10. However, it should be noted that maximum ozone
concentrations in recent years were below the health advisory level.
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Pollutants State Standards Federal Standards
Ozone (O3) Nonattainment Nonattainment
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Attainment Unclassified
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Attainment Unclassified
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Attainment Unclassified
Particulate Matter
(PM10)
Nonattainment Nonattainment
Fine Particulate Matter
(PM2.5)
Attainment Unclassified
Lead Attainment Unclassified
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1.1 Water conservation technologies. Promote indoor and outdoor water
conservation and reuse practices including water recycling, grey water re-
use and rainwater harvesting.
1.2 Landscape design. Encourage the reduction of landscaping water
consumption through plant selection and irrigation technology.
1.3 Conservation performance targeted to new construction. Incentivize
new construction to exceed the state’s Green Building Code for water
conservation by an additional 10 percent.
1.4 Greywater. Allow the use of greywater and establish criteria and
standards to permit its safe and effective use (also known as on-site water
recycling).
1.5 Waterways as amenities. When considering development applications
and infrastructure improvements, treat waterways as amenities, not
hazards, and encourage designs that embrace the waterways.
2.1 View corridor preservation. Protect and preserve existing, signature
views of the hills and mountains from the city.
2.2 Scenic roadways. Continue to minimize the impact on views by restricting
new billboards along the City’s roads and highways. Electronic and
animated billboards should be prohibited except in rare and special
circumstances.
2.3 Hillside grading. Continue to require the preparation of a grading analysis
on hillside development to pre-determine where development should
occur so as to minimize the impact of new development on views of the
city’s hillsides.
2.4 Public facilities. Plan public facilities, roads, and private development to
take advantage of the city’s mountain and hillside views, especially as the
City Center develops.
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2.5 Dark sky. Limit light pollution from outdoor sources, especially in rural,
hillside and mountain areas, and open spaces, to maintain darkness for
night sky viewing.
3.1 Open space network. Require new development to comply with
requirements of the CVMSHCP.
3.2 Grading and vegetation removal. Limit grading and vegetation removal of
new development activities to the minimum extent necessary to reduce
erosion and sedimentation.
3.3 Preservation of natural land features. Preserve significant natural
features and incorporate into all developments. Such features may
include ridges, rock outcroppings, natural drainage courses, wetland and
riparian areas, steep topography, important or landmark trees and views.
4.1 Buffers from new development. Require new developments adjacent to
identified plant and wildlife habitat areas to maintain a protective buffer.
4.2 Wildlife corridors. Support the creation of local and regional
conservation and preservation easements that protect habitat areas,
serve as wildlife corridors and help protect sensitive biological resources.
4.3 Landscape design. Continue to encourage new developments to
incorporate native vegetation materials into landscape plans and
prohibit the use of species known to be invasive according to the
California Invasive Plant Inventory.
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5.1 Municipal operations. Conduct city operations so as to continually
reduce municipal greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lead the
community in reducing GHG emissions.
5.2 GHG reductions. Promote land use and development patterns that
reduce the community’s dependence on, and length of, automobile
trips.
5.3 Existing GHG emissions. Work with community members and businesses
to support their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5.4 Monitoring progress. Monitor and update periodically the city’s target
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5.5 GHG Inventory. Periodically update the City’s greenhouse gas inventory.
5.6 Climate-appropriate building types. Seek out and promote alternative
building types that are more sensitive to the arid environment found in
the Coachella Valley. Consider the use of courtyard housing and
commercial buildings to provide micro-climates that are usable year
round, reducing the need for mechanically cooled spaces and reducing
energy consumption.
5.7 GHG reduction incentives. Support and incentivize projects that
innovatively and aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5.8 Climate change and health. Acknowledge the on-going and future
impacts of climate change and extreme events on Palm Desert’s
residents, taking action to minimize the effects among vulnerable
populations and help implement California's executive order (EO) S-13-
08 and the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy.
5.9 Adaptation strategy. Proactively develop strategies to reduce the
community’s vulnerability to climate change impacts.
5.10 Urban forest. Protect the city’s healthy trees and plant new ones to
provide shade, increase carbon sequestration and purify the air.
5.11 Reduced water supplies. When reviewing development proposals,
consider the possibility of constrained future water supplies and require
enhanced water conservation measures.
5.12 Designing for warming temperatures. When reviewing development
proposals, encourage applicants and designers to consider warming
temperatures in the design of cooling systems.
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5.13 Designing for changing precipitation patterns. When reviewing
development proposals, encourage applicants to consider stormwater
control strategies and systems for sensitivity to changes in precipitation
regimes and consider adjusting those strategies to accommodate future
precipitation regimes.
5.14 Heat island reductions. Require heat island reduction strategies in new
developments such as light-colored paving, permeable paving, right-
sized parking requirements, vegetative cover and planting, substantial
tree canopy coverage, and south and west side tree planting.
5.15 Public realm shading. Strive to improve shading in public spaces, such as
bus stops, sidewalks and public parks and plazas, through the use of
trees, shelters, awnings, gazebos, fabric shading and other creative
cooling strategies.
5.16 Reducing GHG emissions. In consulting with applicants and designing
new facilities, prioritize the selection of green building design features
that enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
5.17 Efficiency incentives. Provide incentives for households to improve
resource efficiency, such as rebate programs, and giveaways for items
such as low-flow showerheads and electrical outlet insulation.
6.1 Passive solar design. Require new buildings to incorporate energy
efficient building and site design strategies for the desert environment
that include appropriate solar orientation, thermal mass, use of natural
daylight and ventilation, and shading.
6.2 Alternative energy. Continue to promote the incorporation of
alternative energy generation (e.g., solar, wind, biomass) in public and
private development.
6.3 Energy Efficient Buildings. Encourage new buildings and buildings
undergoing major retrofits to exceed Title 24 energy efficiency
standards.
6.4 Community development–subdivisions. When reviewing applications
for new subdivisions, require all residences be oriented along an east-
west access, minimizing western sun exposure, to maximize energy
efficiency.
6.5 Renewable energy–open space areas. Allow the installation of
renewable energy systems in areas designated for open space.
6.6 Publicly funded buildings. Require energy conservation as the primary
strategy to reduce energy demand in new and renovation projects using
public funds.
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6.7 Solar access. Prohibit new development and renovations that impair
adjacent buildings’ solar access, unless it can be demonstrated that the
shading benefits substantially offset the impacts of solar energy
generation potential.
6.8 Use of passive open space. Allow renewable energy projects in areas
zoned for open space, where consistent with other uses and values.
6.9 Public buildings. Require that any new building constructed in whole or
in part with City funds incorporate passive solar design features, such as
daylighting and passive solar heating, where feasible.
6.10 Municipal building energy efficiency. Strive for high levels of energy
efficiency in municipal facilities.
6.11 Energy-efficient infrastructure. Whenever possible, use energy-efficient
models and technology when replacing or providing new city
infrastructure such as streetlights, traffic signals, water conveyance
pumps, or other public infrastructure.
7.1 Affordable housing – green design. Require affordable housing
developments to prioritize green building design features that reduce
monthly utility costs, enhance occupant health and lower the overall
cost of housing.
7.2 Education. Continue to provide technical support and information to
educate the development community about green building.
7.3 Reducing GHG emissions. In consulting with applicants and designing
new facilities, prioritize the selection of green building design features
that enhance the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
7.4 Heat island reductions. Require heat island reduction strategies in new
developments such as light-colored cool roofs, light-colored paving,
permeable paving, right-sized parking requirements, water efficient
vegetative cover and planting, substantial tree canopy coverage, south
and west side water-efficient tree planting, and shaded asphalt paving.
7.5 Public realm shading. Strive to improve shading in public spaces, such as
bus stops, sidewalks and public parks and plazas, through the use of
trees, shelters, awnings, gazebos, fabric shading and other creative
cooling strategies.
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8.1 Sources of Pollutants. Minimize the creation of new sources of air
pollutants within the city.
8.2 Land use patterns. Promote compact, mixed-use, energy efficient and
transit-oriented development to reduce air pollutants associated with
energy and vehicular use.
8.3 Single-occupant vehicle trip reductions. Provide disincentives for single-
occupant vehicle trips through parking supply and pricing controls in
areas where parking supply is limited and alternative transportation
modes are available.
8.4 Electric vehicles. Encourage the use of electric vehicles (EV), including
golf carts and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV), by encouraging
developments to provide EV and NEV charging stations, street systems,
and other infrastructure that support the use of EVs. Similarly,
encourage the use of renewable energy sources to power EV plug-in
stations.
8.5 Construction-related emissions. Require construction activities,
including on-site building and the transport of materials, to limit
emissions and dust.
8.6 Traffic congestion. In the instance where a significant health hazard may
be created, consider designs for new intersections to function in a
manner that reduces air pollutant emissions from stop and start and
idling traffic conditions.
8.7 Transportation demand management. Encourage employers to provide
transit subsidies, bicycle facilities, alternative work schedules,
ridesharing, telecommuting, work-at-home programs, employee
education and preferential parking for carpools/vanpools.
8.8 Transportation management associations. Encourage commercial, retail
and residential developments to create and participate in transportation
management associations.
8.9 Deliveries. Encourage business owners to schedule deliveries at off-peak
traffic periods.
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9.1 Disturbance of human remains. In areas where there is a high chance that
human remains may be present, the City will require proposed projects to
conduct a survey to establish occurrence of human remains, if any. If
human remains are discovered on proposed project sites, the project must
implement mitigation measures to prevent impacts to human remains in
order to receive permit approval.
9.2 Discovery of human remains. Require that any human remains discovered
during implementation of public and private projects within the City be
treated with respect and dignity and fully comply with the California Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and other appropriate
laws.
9.3 Tribal coordination. Require notification of California Native American
tribes and organizations of proposed projects that have the potential to
adversely impact cultural resources.
9.4 Protected sites. Require sites with significant cultural resources to be
protected.
9.5 Preservation of historic resources. Encourage the preservation of historic
resources, when practical. When it is not practical to preserve a historic
resource in its entirety, the City will require the architectural details and
design elements of historic structures to be preserved during renovations
and remodels as much as feasible.
9.6 Paleontological resources. Require any paleontological artifacts found
within the City or its Sphere of Influence to be reported to the City and
temporarily loaned to local museums like the Western Science Center for
Archaeology and Paleontology in Hemet, CA.
10 Mitigation and preservation of cultural resources. Require development
to avoid archaeological and paleontological resources, whenever possible.
If complete avoidance is not possible, require development to minimize
and fully mitigate the impacts to the resource
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