Riverside County Supervisors to consider Thermal Beach Club luxury development at next meeting

Right now it's an empty plot of land covered with brush, along Avenue 66 east of Tyler Street, just south of the Jacqueline Cochrane Airport in Thermal.

But, if developer Regent Properties get's the go-ahead, the open desert will be transformed into the $750 million Thermal Beach Club.

It's a residential development which the project website describes as a "private paradise" featuring a "private beach" for club members.

Scott Hildebrandt is a lead consultant on the project.

"I mean this is a great opportunity to add another attraction to what brings people to the Coachella Valley," said Hildebrandt, Senior Vice President with Albert A. Webb Associates.

County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez says right now he's not in a rush to green light the Thermal Beach Club, when Supervisors review the project during their next meeting October 27th.

While the project promises "luxury villas", "on demand surf", golf, and dining, Perez and others are asking the developer to offer the county more financial concessions, including a fund to support building low income housing in the area and more infrastructure.

"The fact that there is more funding from each home that will be sold that would be used for more access to clean drinking water for the east end is a good thing," said Supervisor Perez.

Under the current plan, the developer wants to build 326 luxury homes at the site, with the homes surrounding a 20 acre surfing lagoon.

The property sits directly east of Desert Mirage High School.

Hildebrandt says the club will offer, by special arrangement, water recreation opportunities for students in CVUSD along with training in vocational arts.

The consultant sounds confident the developer will reach agreement with the county for the plan to move forward.

"They're looking at ways they can give back to the community, and I know there has been a lot of discussion about that," said Hildebrandt.

The project also has the support of the Thermal Oasis Community Council.

News Channel 3 will continue to follow any action taken by the county board of supervisors regarding the project.