Desert Hot Springs planning commission unanimously backs 64-unit affordable housing project

The Desert Hot Springs Planning Commission unanimously voted April 14 to recommend City Council approval of entitlements for Crossings on Camino Companedo, a proposed 64-unit, deed-restricted affordable housing development on a vacant five‑acre site about 600 feet east of Palm Drive.

Planning staff and the applicant described the project as a 100% affordable development with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, on‑site amenities and a single‑story 3,986‑square‑foot community building. Patricia Vil Gomez, the planning staff presenter, told the commission the development would require a general plan and zoning map amendment from residential high to residential medium and that utilities are available at the site. The staff report recommended certification of an addendum to the 2020 environmental impact report and approval of the project entitlements.

The proposal would be deed‑restricted and target households at roughly 30% to 60% of area median income, staff said. Because the project is fully affordable, the developer requested one concession under California’s density bonus framework to reduce unit‑size minimums: one‑bedrooms at 614 square feet (the city minimum is 700 sq ft) and two‑bedrooms at 849 square feet (city minimum 900 sq ft). Staff said up to three concessions are permitted under state law but only one was requested for this application.

Mark Gri, vice president of Blue Company and the applicant, said the developer’s mission is “to increase the standard of affordable housing,” and highlighted proximity to several nearby schools and plans to use the community building to support after‑school programming. Asked how tenants would be selected if applications exceeded available units, the applicant cited equal‑opportunity housing law and state rules governing waiting lists and application timing; he characterized placement as effectively driven by application timing.

Commissioners asked about trash collection and parking. The applicant said trash enclosures will be enclosed and gated for pickup, and the property will provide on‑site maintenance; he also said the project’s parking exceeds a two‑space-per-unit ratio and is expected to obviate on‑street parking needs.

During staff presentation, planners said 61 affordable units initially assigned to the project site would be reassigned to a Riverside County project led by Abode Communities, meaning the change in density at the Desert Hot Springs site would not result in a net loss of assigned affordable units for the housing element.

A commissioner moved to approve the package of five related actions — General Plan Amendment 25‑1, Design Review 25‑1, Development Permit 25‑1, Environmental 25‑3, and the zoning map amendment — and the motion passed unanimously. The planning commission adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council of the City of Desert Hot Springs certify the EIR addendum and approve the entitlements; the City Council will consider the recommendation at a future meeting.

Meeting participants who spoke in favor included the applicant and no members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing. The planning commission’s recommendation now goes to the City Council for final consideration.