Big vote coming in Palm Springs to decide future of Oswit Canyon

UPDATE: 7:02 p.m.

For many years, Andy Gibbs said Oswit Canyon has been a short walk away from his home.

But he said the canyon has been nothing short of popular for locals and visitors.

“As far as Palm Springs goes, this is the last, undeveloped alluvial fan on the entire western side of Palm Springs,” Gibbs said. “There are protected, federally-protected species in these hills that are enjoyed by the ecotourists. The hikers, the photographers, the artists and the bird watchers. Even today, you see 25 to 30 cars on a regular weekday morning, and all of those cars had one or two or three hikers that are up in these hills right now.”

But Gibbs said he eventually got word of developers planning to build nearly five dozen homes on the lands.

Which is what inspired him and others this last year to protect the canyon from mass development, forming the “Save Oswit Canyon” group, while preserving it for the city’s ecotourism.

“We’re not saying you can’t build,” Gibbs said. “It’s just a responsible building that requires developers to meet much higher bars in placement, location and quantity of the homes.”

City leaders said developers filed an injunction late last week that would stop any action to be taken on the Oswit Canyon initiative, but that injunction got denied.

“They’re trying to stop that, claiming we can’t do that because of a court judgment and settlement back in 1993,” Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors said. “The city attorney went to court on Friday, and successfully argued that it is absolutely alright to make this decision.”

But those like Gibbs said they hope to see the city follow through on their wishes, protecting the lands for years to come.

“This is not just an environmentally-sensitive area that needs to be protected,” Gibbs said. “But it’s one that needs to be protected for many generations of Palm Springs residents. So, we’re hoping the city council does the right thing, and just adopts it as is.”

Gibbs said under the protection initiative, one home can be built per every 40 acres, which means six homes could be built on the lands.

KESQ and CBS Local 2 reached out to the developers’ attorney, but have not heard back from them yet.

Stay with KESQ and CBS Local 2 for the latest developments on Oswit Canyon.

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ORIGINAL STORY: 3:57 p.m.

There are plenty of big items on the agenda for Wednesday night’s city council meeting in Palm Springs, one of which may determine the future of development in Oswit Canyon.

A group called ‘Save Oswit Canyon’ has been collecting signatures to protect the land environmentally, especially whenever it comes to possible development on the land. The group’s involvement increased after a recent project to build dozens of homes on the property was brought before city leaders.

Take an inside look at the fight to Save Oswit Canyon

City leaders said developers filed an injunction late last week that was ultimately denied.

Palm Springs City Council members will be voting on whether to officially install the new initiative to go into effect Thursday, or they’ll decide to put it up for a special election to be voted on by residents of Palm Springs.

Zak Dahlheimer will have all the details about the initiative on KESQ News Channel 3 at 6 p.m.