The DHS City Council divided on controversial development plan

The Desert Hot Springs City Council is divided on deciding whether or not, land owner, Ed Adkinson should be granted another tract map extension.

The landowners plans have become a controversial issue for some environmentalists.

“It is beautiful. To ruin that with housing, the preservation is supposed to be preserved, that’s just too bad,” said one Desert Hot Springs couple.

The potential development project sits about a mile down from the Mission Creek Preserve and Sand to Snow national monument.

The project has been in the works for more than 20 years and Council member Russell Betts said the development raises one question.

“All the visitors are coming to this area. Do they want to travel past a very intensive development before they go into this nature preserve or do they want to experience the entrance to Sand to Snow as a proper national monument entrance?” asked Betts.

“If this project was on the other side of the 62, in a more populated area, I don’t think there would be a problem with this project,” continued Betts.

Mayor Scott Matas said he is split.

“It doesn’t actually butt up against the preserve itself or cause problems with species’ life. So I think it’s something we really have to consider for the future of what we’re actually saying here. Are we pro-development or not? Should they be able to develop on land that’s developable or not? It’s going to be a long debate,” Matas said.

Matas fears desert hot springs can find itself in a messy legal battle.

If the Council decides against Mr. Adkinson’s request for an extension, it will be the second city council to deny a landowner a tract map extension in all of California.