Happy Wednesday, everyone. We hope you get a chance to dry off soon.
If a meeting attended by about 50 La Quinta residents Tuesday is any indication, a Planning Commission public hearing next week should be interesting.
- The residents turned out in force for the first informational meeting about the 284-unit Troutdale Village apartment complex planned for the northeast corner of Washington Street and Avenue 50.
- Developer Jeffrey Parker offered them a glimpse at early renderings of the project that consists of 11 multistory buildings, hundreds of parking spaces, and amenities on roughly 14 acres of land that is currently zoned for medium/high-density residential. One quarter of the units will be reserved for moderate-income tenants.
- Parker found few fans of the proposal, as each resident who spoke was opposed to the development. Among the concerns were the ensuing increase in traffic and a perceived decrease in the quality of life in the neighborhood. “We live in a resort community,” one resident said. “We’d like to keep it a resort. This is not a resort.”
- Residents will have another opportunity to weigh in on the project March 28 during a public hearing held by the city’s Planning Commission. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall and is also streamed streaming online. Find more information here.
Indio halts some self-storage development, for now
A 45-day moratorium on constructing new self-storage facilities is now in place in Indio after a unanimous City Council vote last week.
- The city has 13 storage facilities, and the surrounding areas of Coachella, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Bermuda Dune have just nine combined. With seven more facilities at some stage of the approval process and nine other inquiries, the Planning Commission suggested the moratorium.
- Planning Commission members said they were concerned that the large amount of land used for storage facilities has limited economic benefits, limited property and sales tax, and limited employment.
Bottom line: Council members were concerned about halting the process with seven facilities already in the application stage and made a last-minute change to exclude from the moratorium any project that has land use applications on file with the city as of March 15. During the moratorium, they plan to consider more long-term changes,
Renewed interest in Rancho Mirage road issue
The Rancho Mirage City Council recently directed staff to complete a feasibility analysis on changes to the low water crossing across Frank Sinatra Drive.
- A larger-scale bridge project was originally proposed in 2011 but was shelved by the council in 2021 after the bridge’s height and costs increased. A new bridge would have raised the intersection of Frank Sinatra and Da Vall Drive six to eight feet, putting it almost level with nearby residents’ walls.
- City staff came up with three smaller-scale alternatives, recommending to city council the option that would extend the southern side of the bridge to create a dedicated pedestrian path.
Bottom line: That portion of the road has only been closed seven to 10 times over the past 20 years, according to city staff. Because the main culprit for closures is built-up debris, the city has already begun more frequent cleaning and inspections
In other news
Ground is expected to be broken at the site of a 108-unit affordable housing project in Coachella in May. Developers hope to open the first doors in December 2024.
Salary negotiations between the Coachella Valley Unified School District and the Coachella Valley Teachers Association remain stalled, and parents and teachers are trying to figure out how to move forward.
Festival season is fast approaching. That means drivers in and around Indio are preparing for the worst while the police department makes plans to help them out.
Events
Mariachi Festival
Saturday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Veterans’ Park, Coachella
Mark your calendars for Coachella’s annual Mariachi Festival, set for this Saturday evening. Enjoy live mariachi music, Folklorico dancing, and more at the free event.
The Galleri Classic
This week and weekend | Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage
The inaugural Galleri Classic, PGA Tour Champions event, features players like Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duvall, Jim Furyk, Fred Couples and more. The event also benefits six local cancer charities in the Coachella Valley. ($30 and up)
Cathedral City City Council: Regular meeting
Tonight | 5:30 p.m. | City Council Chambers
A study session begins at 2:30 p.m., with the regular meeting at 5:30. Find more information about this meeting here.
Fashion Week El Paseo
Today and Thursday | The Gardens on El Paseo, Palm Desert
Don’t miss the final few days of Fashion Week El Paseo, dubbed the “West Coast’s largest consumer fashion week.” The festival has featured runway shows from top and emerging designers, pop-up shops, designer meet-and-greets, cocktail receptions and more. (Ticket prices vary)
Indian Wells Certified Farmers’ Market
Thursday | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Southwest Church, Indian Wells
Shop for fresh food and produce. Held each week from October through May.
City of La Quinta Surplus Sale
Friday | 4 p.m. deadline | City of La Quinta, City Clerk’s Office
The general public is invited to bid on the City of La Quinta’s surplus equipment. A full list of surplus items can be found here. Bids must be turned in no later than Friday at 4 p.m., and will then be opened in the City Hall lobby on Monday, March 27 at 8 a.m.
Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers’ Market
Friday | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. | 71560 San Jacinto Dr., Rancho Mirage
Join 40+ local artisans, chefs, food vendors and farmers every Friday from October through May.
Show: Comedian Iliza Shlesinger
Friday | 8 p.m. | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Iliza Shlesinger is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and author, selling out theaters around the globe with a devoted fan base. ($39 and up)
The Kingdom Choir
Friday | 8 p.m. | McCallum Theatre
London’s The Kingdom Choir is best known for their show-stopping performance at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. (Ticket prices vary)
La Quinta Hot Rod and Custom Car Show
Saturday | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | La Quinta Community Park
Start your engines and get ready for the 16th annual La Quinta Car Show. Entertainment, food, drinks and a beer garden will also be available at this family-friendly event. Admission and parking are free.
Show: Jay Leno
Saturday | 8 p.m. | The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
Jay Leno is an acclaimed TV late night show host, an admired stand-up comedian and much more. Find tickets to the show here. ($75 – $125)
La Quinta Certified Farmers’ Market
Sunday | 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Old Town La Quinta
Find fresh produce, flower bouquets, organic food, live music and more from October through April.
Palm Desert Certified Farmers’ Market
Sunday | 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. | 72559 Highway 111
Fresh produce and artisan vendors can be found at the farmers’ market every Sunday, from October through April.
Indio Certified Farmers’ Market
Sunday | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Downtown Indio
The market features locally harvested fruits and vegetables, fresh food, chefs, artisan vendors, yoga and more.
⌛ And finally …
The Eastern Coachella Valley is getting some additional entertainment options, courtesy of a 14-year-old theater company.
- Green Room Theatre Company Coachella Valley (GRTCCV) announced Monday it is moving from Palm Desert to Coachella. Its future productions will be staged at City Hall.
- “The move to Coachella is a significant step for GRTCCV, as it will allow us to not only tap into the vibrant and diverse arts scene in the East Coachella Valley, but to also bring professional and impactful theater to an area that has lacked such,” said David Catanzarite, the company’s co-founder and executive artistic director.
- Looking ahead: GRTCCV’s first production in its new location will be “Novio Boy,” described as “a colorful, bilingual romantic comedy.” Performance dates and ticket information will be available at the theater company’s website here when they are announced.
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