Commission approves 60‑unit Sienna Townhouse condominium project on North Palm Canyon Drive
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Summary
The Planning Commission approved a major development permit and Class 22 infill categorical exemption for a 60‑unit condominium development (Sienna Townhouse) at 1875 North Palm Canyon Drive, with direction to the applicant and to the Architectural Review Committee on design details.
The Palm Springs Planning Commission on Jan. 22 approved a major development permit and CEQA Class 22 (infill) categorical exemption for the Sienna Townhouse project, a 60‑unit condominium community at 1875 North Palm Canyon Drive.
Planning staff said the one‑lot condominium map and architectural plan place a clubhouse and dog‑park amenity along Palm Canyon Drive and clusters the 60 units behind that frontage. The site has a split zoning pattern: the front portion is C‑1 and the rear is R‑3. Staff noted a recent city council change to TRC general‑plan language that removes a planned‑development (PDD) requirement for residential use in the TRC, and staff recommended approval under that framework.
Project materials describe 60 units on a single condo lot with a community clubhouse, a pool and a dog park. Staff said the development proposes densities below the TRC maximum (staff cited 30 units per acre maximum and said the project proposes roughly 14 units per acre). Building heights were described as 24 feet for residential buildings and 18 feet for the clubhouse. The applicant provided a landscape and hardscape palette and three example garage‑door styles to break visual monotony.
Mark Wortman, managing member for Monahan Palm Canyon LLC, introduced the project and said the pool is planned to be 38 by 17 feet; he described it as a recreational pool and said depths would be modest. Landscape architect Russell McDonald described frontage treatments, decorative wall materials and Corten steel panels for artful screens.
Commissioners probed compatibility with the street, the C‑1/R‑3 zoning line, garage‑door repetition, internal pedestrian circulation and the clubhouse program. Several commissioners asked for stronger shade tree planting along North Palm Canyon Drive, a distinct pedestrian path within the drive aisle, softening of rear perimeter walls with planting, and screening on selected rooftop decks to protect privacy. Commissioners also requested design review language to prevent identical garage doors on adjoining units and suggested the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) review color schemes and material details in final submittals.
Applicant and project designers said they would present material samples and that Corten steel panels were intended rather than corrugated steel. The commission made those design suggestions conditions of record and directed ARC to review building materials, colors, pool details and landscaping at its next review.
Commissioner motion to approve the major development permit, the infill categorical exemption and the conditions in the staff memorandum — together with the commission’s design direction for ARC — passed by roll call without recorded opposition.
Why this matters: The decision clears an important step for a 60‑unit infill housing project on a major Palm Springs corridor. The commission’s design direction aims to balance increased housing capacity with streetscape quality, shade, pedestrian access and neighborhood compatibility.
