Cathedral City resident threatens court action in fight over gate

Matthew McLean walked down his quiet street in Cathedral City, which he fears could soon see a massive increase in traffic.

“If they do open that gate, there will be hundreds of cars coming through here a day, who don’t live here, who didn’t use these streets before,” said McLean.

McLean’s concern has to do with an empty lot at the west end of his street. Papaya Lane.

A developer is planning to build 214 additional homes inside the Rio Del Sol gated community, homes which were part of the original plan submitted more than 20 years ago.

“Yes there is a need for progress, but at what cost?”, asked McLean.

McLean and others in the neighborhood are concerned that the padlocked gate, behind the green fence at the west end of Sunny Lane, used only by construction trucks years ago, during the first phase of development at Rio Del Sol, will be opened to residents living in the homeowner’s association.

McLean contends opening the gate will cause a significant increase in east-west traffic on Sunny lane, on his street Papaya Lane, and on Pomegranate Lane, with drivers who live in the gated community using those streets to travel between the gate and Da Vall drive to the east.

His concern over safety is compounded by the fact that Papaya, Sunny, and Pomegranate don’t have sidewalks, forcing residents to walk on the roads.

“We want to be safe, we want to keep our way of life,” said McLean.

McLean says he purchased his home in 2015, and says at that time, he did not think the parcel behind the green fence was anywhere close to being developed.

“I did look at a map and did see it was native land, and I know that native land out here is left undeveloped, sometimes on purpose,” said McLean.

Now that he knows that plans are in the works, McLean and others in the neighborhood are planning to let their voices be heard, when the city council takes up the issue June 6th.

McLean doesn’t mind the gate being used, but only by emergency vehicles.

Currently, emergency vehicles are allowed to use the padlocked gate.

Residents already living in Rio Del Sol use a gate off Gerald Ford to get in and out of the development.

McLean says he and others in the neighborhood met with the developer, La Quinta-based Rilington Group a few weeks ago, to express their concerns, but says Rilington essentially ignored their concerns.

“We’re being told our community doesn’t matter, and that is frustrating,” said McLean.

In an email, a representative for Rilington Group turned down a request to comment on camera, and wrote in part that city Planning Manager Robert Rodriquez is “best suited to answer your questions”.

We contacted Cathedral City, and received an email response, from city communications manager Chris Parman, who wrote in part, “The secondary gate has always been part of the Rio Del Sol planned development. It is a requirement to have a secondary access. Only residents and emergency vehicles will use the secondary gate.”

McLean says if Rio Del Sol residents are allowed to use the secondary” gate, he and his neighbors will fight it and says they’ll “go to court” if they have to.

“I want them to find a different way to get into their community,” said McLean.