Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves general plan amendment and rezoning to allow medical offices at Fred Waring and Fairhaven
Summary
Council approved changing a former church’s designation from small town neighborhood to neighborhood center and rezoning the site to office professional so it may be converted to medical offices; motion passed 5–0.
The Palm Desert City Council voted unanimously on June 26 to approve a general plan amendment and change of zone to facilitate conversion of a vacant church building at the northwest corner of Fred Waring Drive and Fairhaven into medical offices.
Carlos Flores of the development services department summarized the proposal: the property’s general plan designation would change from Small Town Neighborhood to Neighborhood Center and the zoning would change from Planned Residential to Office Professional. The council and planning commission materials describe the site as a 1968 building that is currently vacant and has an existing parking lot and landscaping.
Applicant and developer Oscar Lua confirmed the conversion is planned as a tenant improvement and that the existing building height (about 26 feet) would not increase; the office professional zone carries a 40‑foot maximum height. Lua said interior demolition permits and an AQMD process are in motion and that no additional buildings are planned at this time.
Residents who commented at the planning commission and in letters raised concerns about potential future building heights and traffic on nearby dead‑end roads; staff and commissioners noted any future development would require its own public hearings and environmental review. For California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) purposes, staff determined the project is exempt under existing facilities rules.
The council approved the general plan amendment and zone change by roll call vote (Councilmember Nastandi, Councilmember Perdido, Councilmember Quintanilla, Mayor Pro Tem Truby and Mayor Harnick — all yes).
