Spa Resort Casino expansion plans moving forward
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is beginning work to study the environmental impacts of a master plan concept for its properties in downtown near Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive.
“Over the past year, we have been working on developing a master plan for this site. This environmental study is the next step in determining what is possible for our downtown location,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said. “This part of the process allows us to share with the public, in very broad strokes, the ideas we are considering. It does not mean that we have a project clearly identified at this time, but only that we are considering the overall impact of a concept that may include a new hotel, retail and meeting space, and a potential casino expansion. We have made no concrete decisions. We do know that we want to build a distinctive and unique project that will be a cornerstone in Palm Springs for decades to come. We have a lot of decisions to make, and we are at the beginning of a long process.”
The Tribal Environmental Impact Report will study the potential environmental impacts of the Vision Agua Caliente Master Plan, which would allow for the expansion of the Spa Resort Casino by up to 68,000 square feet and the development of up to 350 new hotel rooms in 510,000 square feet of hotel space. The master plan also includes up to 60,000 square feet of meeting space, up to 50,000 square feet of retail commercial space, up to 40,000 square feet of space for a spa/fitness center, and approximately 650 parking spaces.
The master plan site is bounded by Amado Road, Calle El Segundo, Tahquitz Canyon Way and Indian Canyon Drive. The project site includes the existing Spa Resort Casino, located north of Andreas Road between Calle El Segundo and Calle Encilia, surface parking lots, vacant land, and a U.S. post office on the corner of Amado Road and Calle Encilia.
As part of the process, the Tribe will collect comments and recommendations from Dec. 16, 2015 until Jan. 15, 2016 regarding the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report, which is anticipated to be released for public review in early 2016.
Responses should be submitted to:
Margaret Park, AICP Director of Planning & Natural Resources Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians 5401 Dinah Shore Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92264 mpark@aguacaliente-nsn.gov
