Councilwomen Speak Out Against Vacating Road For Rosewood Project

Two Palm Desert City Councilwomen spoke out Thursday against vacating a frontage road along Highway 74 as part of a plan to develop an upscale hotel off El Paseo.

Councilwoman Cindy Finerty said because the land is valued at around $200,000, the city should hold onto it until the economy rebounds.

"As far as I know, Rosewood has done nothing to move the project along," Councilwoman Cindy Finerty said. " ... Why are we jumping the gun?"

Councilwoman Jean Benson also seemed hesitant to move forward too quickly.

"I know it is setting a public hearing, but that can be set any time. I don’t see any reason to do it," Benson said.

Despite their comments, council members set a public hearing April 10, when members of the community will be asked to give input on the vacation.

City Attorney David Erwin said he has drafted a purchase agreement that will allow Rosewood to purchase the vacated land at the current appraisal price within a year. However, he said that if the developers do not purchase the land in that time frame, the land will be appraised again at the future sale date.

The council approved the -- located west of Ocotillo Drive and south of El Paseo -- in August.

The process to vacate a road is separate from the previous approval process, requiring a public hearing and a recommendation from the Planning Commission. The commission recommended moving forward with the plan at its Feb. 20 meeting.

The vacating of the road will not go into effect until the project is completed, according to a city staff report.

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