Hundreds rally to save Oswit Canyon

The fight to save the Oswit Canyon continues, after hundreds rallied Saturday to keep developers away from land in South Palm Springs.

Community members carried signs displaying “Save our sheep” and “Rezone now!” messages.

Organizers said they hope the rally will be a sign to the city that the people of Palm Springs do not want a new 160-home development.

From the start the groups focus has been to protect the six endangered species that call the canyon home.

On Thursday the developer announced they withdrew their application for the proposed housing development.

Organizers said they’re now going to take it one step further, making sure no shovels touch the ground.

“So next Friday we start discussions, negotiations if you will, with the developer. We’ve been in touch with a number of conservancy groups and it is our hope that we can assemble enough funds to purchase this land. And we’re fair; we don’t want the developer to leave town with a huge loss. He’s in business and we’re in business to save sheep,” said Andy Gibbs with the Save Oswit Canyon group.

Mayor Robert Moon was there among fellow Palm Springs residents.

Since the plans were revisited, Moon said he’s been educating himself on the project and has shared his concerns about having another development in the city.

“We always say Palm Springs is like no place else and if we keep this up we’re going to look just like other cities. We’re going to be overdeveloped,” Moon said.

While organizers are pleased with the turnout, they said they don’t think the fight is over.

They said they hope a deal can be reached, so generations can continue to enjoy the land.