Hundreds don’t want Oswit Canyon developed

A housing development may be built near a popular hiking trail in Palm Springs and, some people aren’t happy about it.

The proposed development would be near the south Lykken Trailhead along South Palm Canyon Drive.

Hikers enjoy the scenic trails in that area, called Oswit Canyon, which is also home to endangered species like bighorn sheep.

More than 500 people have joined a Facebook group to save it.

Opponents said if it’s developed the wildlife will suffer and so will Palm Springs.

“We will not let one shovel touch this soil. We will not lose this pristine canyon, which is home to bighorn sheep just so an Orange County builder can come in and make millions of dollars and leave,” Save Oswit Canyon spokesperson Jane Garrison said.

The developer plans to build 160 homes on 117.

Garrison and Andy Gibbs said the development will not only hurt the wildlife it will also hurt tourism.

“Visitors from around the world visit to hike the Lykken Trail and this brings tourism dollars to Palm Springs,” Gibbs said.

Work first began on this project 10 years ago, people opposed to the project said the developer used an environmental impact report from 1991.

“Since 1991 bighorn sheep have been declared an endangered species and they’ve been seen in this canyon every single week and we have photographs to document it,” Garrison said.

The group wants the Palm Springs Planning Commission to deny this project.

Assistant City Manager Marcus Fuller said the project is only in the early stages.

He said the city will address any changes that have occurred since the original environmental impact report.

“For each of those issues that are new that weren’t fully evaluated, then those items will be evaluated as part of the new environmental review,” he said.

James Kremski, who hikes the area at least once a week, said he’d be sad to see it developed.

“If you destroy what drew people to this place you kind of shoot yourself in the foot,” Kremski said.

Gibbs said based on the group’s research the project won’t help the local economy either.

“The detrimental effects of this project include the devaluation of all the neighboring homes. It requires an upgrade to all of the infrastructure to get from here to 111,” Gibbs said.

While the city looks at the development, hundreds of people hope the city will only look and not let it go further than that.

The group is holding a rally on May 28 near the site in an effort to raise awareness about the project and the group’s concerns.

We called the developer, Cole Realty Advisers, for a comment but didn’t get a call back.