Palm Desert residents urge city action as Refuge Palm Desert construction raises dust and grading complaints

Several Palm Desert residents raised repeated concerns during non-agenda public comment about the Refuge Palm Desert housing development, saying grading and erosion control measures have left an 11-foot-high escarpment behind their properties and produced dust and health problems.

Jana Korchinski told council members her neighborhood on Kaufman, Bridal and Shepherd Lane is coping with breathing problems, increased pool maintenance and other damage tied to disturbed sand and soil. Charles Cronenweth said the new subdivision is being built approximately 11 feet higher than existing lots and that planned buffers and single-story assurances were reduced; he added the site now includes two-story homes and steeper grading that "takes away our view of the mountains."

Linda Candler said the specific plan approved in September 2022 referenced a 50-foot landscape buffer that appears to have been reduced to 45 feet, and that slope and temporary fencing are not matching approved plans. She told council that watering and polymer-based dust mitigation used by the developer have not been effective and asked for immediate landscaping, grading correction and a neighborhood meeting with the developer to review renderings and a written commitment on wall type and placement.

Council did not take an immediate action on the comments at this meeting but the public statements put the city's planning and development staff on notice to address grading, buffer compliance and dust mitigation with the developer and residents.