Palm Springs, Agua Caliente to hold joint meeting in June on proposed warehouse project

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - Palm Springs and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have selected a date of June 3 to hold a joint meeting regarding a controversial proposed warehouse project.

The tribe's proposed 217-acre Desert Mountain View Business Park is planned to be built on Highway 111 at Tipton Road. The project would include four warehouse buildings ranging in size from 248,000 square feet to 1.14 million square feet. An environmental impact report found that there will be "significant and unavoidable" air quality impacts.

The meeting will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros. The public is invited to attend.

Officials said more time is needed for the developer to resolve a number of technical items related to the project. A June meeting will also provide both the public and City Staff additional time to review the project and the complex environmental documents so that the meeting can be as productive and informative as possible. 

While the City's role is limited, the Joint City Council/Tribal Meeting will allow the public to learn more about the proposed development as well as provide feedback directly to the Tribal Council, who will ultimately make the final decision on the project later this year.

Last month, the city council voted to send a report of concerns and recommendations to the tribe regarding the project. The Oswit Land Trust led a protest before the meeting, arguing the review process was being rushed and that the project raises significant environmental and infrastructure concerns — including air pollution, potential harm to endangered species, and increased traffic congestion.

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