Planning commission approves Miralon Phase 2 final plan, refers architecture to review committee

The Palm Springs Planning Commission on April 8 approved final planned‑development plans for Phase 2 of the Miralon subdivision, a 25‑home parcel of the larger Miralon project, and recertified the project’s mitigated negative declaration under CEQA.

The vote followed a staff presentation that found the final plans in substantial conformance with the project’s 2016 preliminary planned‑development (PD) approval, the Miralon design guidelines and the Miralon vision/landscape book, subject to architectural refinements. Planning staff recommended referral to the Planning Commission’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) for detailed review.

Commissioners said the outstanding issues center on how closely the house elevations and interior ceiling treatments match the midcentury “desert modern” character the Miralon design guidelines cite (inspired by William Cody, Donald Wexler and Ricardo Legorretta). Planning staff recommended specific ARC conditions — including simplifying massing, reducing applied ornamentation, revising certain window types in favor of clerestory windows, and reviewing fascia and ceiling treatments — to better reflect the design book.

Developer Todd Cunningham, president of Woodbridge Pacific Group, told the commission the builder will address the architectural comments in ARC review and change window products: “We will not use those windows again, ever,” he said, referring to window types used on earlier Miralon homes.

Alongside the referral to ARC, the commission required formation of a joint subcommittee to work through outstanding architectural items before ARC review. The subcommittee will include Commissioner Morrell and two members appointed from ARC. The commission added several conditions to the approval: require a clear path of travel to the gated access across the exclusive‑use common area backing some lots; ask the subcommittee to review sloped ceilings and ceiling height to ensure the overall building form reflects the Miralon urban design guidelines; and include language directing exterior material transitions to occur at logical break points rather than mid‑wall.

Planning staff also recommended two tree species substitutions to improve longevity in windy microclimates and noted that the approved 2016 PD and the 2004 preliminary PD remain the controlling project entitlements for the larger Miralon development.

The motion to approve the final PD, recertify the mitigated negative declaration and refer the matter to ARC with the added subcommittee and conditions carried on a unanimous roll call.

The commission and staff said the added subcommittee is intended to resolve architectural details quickly so ARC can complete its review within the project’s remaining entitlement timelines.