Changes made to proposed La Quinta apartments based on community comments

There continues to be opposition to a proposed apartment complex in La Quinta after changes were made to the plans based on public comments. 

A nearly 250-unit apartment complex is proposed to be built at the corner of Washington and Avenue 50 in La Quinta. Changes to the 14-acre complex were made after dozens of residents shared concerns about the project.

The changes were presented at La Quinta's Planning Commission meeting Tuesday. Some changes include:

• Changed the Project name to "La Quinta Village Apartments" previously "Troutdale Village"
• The total unit count has been reduced from 284 units to 252 units
  • 178 market-rate units and 74 moderate-income units will be provided
  • Previously 214 market-rate units and 70 moderate-income units were proposed
• The architectural style changed from modern contemporary to contemporary Mediterranean
• Reduced the height and stories of four out of the 10 buildings

Despite the developer making changes using comments from the community, many nearby residents, like Kristen Dolan, are still not on board.

"Unanimously, the neighborhoods are against this project," said Dolan. "I know we need more housing, but it should be the right project for this site. And it just isn't right now."

Thomas Emison lives in one of the houses just north of the proposed development.

"Certainly, our view being blocked. What I didn't appreciate when I first looked at the project is just the amount of parking," said Emison.

The Planning Commission approved recommending the Environmental Document for the development to the City Council. However, the Planning Commission disapproved recommending the General Plan Amendment, the Specific Plan, or Site Development Permit. 

"I don't want to see my streets cluttered with a bunch of cars that don't even live there," Dolan said. "It's not that we don't want any project or that we don't want housing. We want the right project at the right height. That's right for the community."

It's now up to the city council to approve the development. A city official said they would tentatively discuss the project at their meeting on August 1st.

"I think that the neighborhood and the surrounding community has stated very clearly that this is not the right development for this site," said concerned resident Kevin White. "Yes, they scaled back some of the buildings, but there are still three-story buildings, and they did change the design, but it still is not in keeping with the overall architecture of the City of La Quinta."