A group of homeowners in La Quinta are outraged about a proposed development that would both feed them and allow them to out gas in their cars. And why the outrage? Ummm, obviously because the kids need to ride their bikes to school.
The “kids on bikes” argument in a moment. First, a little background.
Members of a group, calling itself “No Washington 50”, talked to the Desert Sun. Here they are on the vacant lot:
Gas station plan frustrates La Quinta residents who say Chandi Group has picked the wrong location https://t.co/DqzeviIbya via @mydesert
— Sherry Barkas (@TDSSherryBarkas) January 26, 2016
The group, which appears from the picture to have the same demographic makeup of Academy Awards voters, says that the development, a 52,000-square-foot commercial project at Avenue 50 and Washington, is wrong for the area. Here are a few of the reasons they gave to The Desert Sun:
- “It’s the wrong thing for the wrong place,” says Warren Palmer
- “This shouldn’t be commercial zoning,” said Dennis Peck, president of the Villa Vista HOA in Duna La Quinta. “It’s a valid business proposal, I just think it needs to be done out by (Highway) 111.”
- A pathologist, Peck said he is especially concerned about increased traffic and its impact on air quality and the safety of kids who ride their bikes to school.
Wait, the safety of kids riding their bikes to school? Weird how, somehow, these things are always about the kids. Here are some more:
- “We’ll look right at the back of their two-story buildings,” Palmer said.
- Palmer was among a group of residents who successfully fought to keep Walgreens from developing on the same parcel a few years ago. “Now, I wish we hadn’t,” he said. “We thought there’d be a lot of noise from the trucks making deliveries. But I would take that noise over this.”
Then, of course, there was this guy:
The group even has a website that, thanks to an awesome counter at the bottom of the page, I can tell you, as of this post, had 2512 views. The group also says they have collected nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the project. They also have printable flyers:
Chandi Group USA, the developer of the project believes that the development is perfect for the area.
“From this location, we can serve the vast majority of La Quinta residents with high-quality products, offer quick-service restaurants and bring in additional medical, dental, legal and professional office space to La Quinta,” Tom Freeman, Chandi Group USA’s chief administrative officer and executive vice president, told The Desert Sun.
The project is still in the development phase and would need to have the property rezoned by the city in order to move forward.
The city estimates that it would earn $166,000 per year in tax revenues from the development.
It would also give nearby residents a place to gas up their cars and grab a bite, during those few times a year that they venture out of their country clubs.
