Architectural Review Committee forwards 75‑unit Cathedral City PUD to Planning Commission

The Cathedral City Architectural Review Committee voted Aug. 5 to recommend a planned-unit development (PUD 25-0001) and associated design and landscape plans for Planning Commission review. The project would subdivide an approximately 7-acre parcel into four residential condominium lots plus lettered lots for streets and open space and would deliver 75 triplex units with shared amenities.

"Good evening, chair, members of the architectural review committee. Cynthia Schultz, planning manager," Cynthia Schultz said while presenting staff’s analysis and recommendation. Schultz told the committee the application package includes a zoning ordinance amendment intended to clarify the PUD design flexibility for setbacks, residential parking and open space, a tentative tract map and the architectural and landscape plans the committee was asked to review. Schultz said the project takes primary access from Van Fleet Street and secondary access from D Street, and that the residential portion was separated from the previously entitled Cathedral Cove Center to the north.

The development team plans three floor plans ranging roughly from 1,650 to 1,950 square feet with two‑car garages; common amenities include a swimming pool, a small clubhouse and a central dog park. Schultz noted private rear yards average about 942 square feet per unit and the project provides just over 28,000 square feet of common open space. Under current PUD calculations, common open space must total about 37,500 square feet (500 sq ft per unit); staff said the proposed zoning amendment would allow counting private open space together with common areas, giving a combined usable open-space total the applicant reports as over 98,000 square feet.

Mario Gonzalez, president and CEO of GHA Communities and the applicant, said the developer owns the property and expects to start construction "probably after 1st of the year," adding the work will be phased with a model complex and additional phases determined by market conditions. "We think this is a wonderful project," Gonzalez told the committee while outlining grading challenges and the team on site and on Zoom.

Committee member Kiefer moved to approve the design as presented and committee member Haas seconded; the clerk recorded that the motion was made by committee member Kiefer, seconded by committee member Haas, and "Motion passes." The committee’s action was to recommend the architecture and landscape for Planning Commission review; the zoning ordinance amendment itself will be considered separately by the Planning Commission and City Council.