As a long time resident of Flamingo Heights, I've been distressed at the proposed changes in zoning and land use. Joshua Tree is known around the world and receives visitors year-round, adding to the area's economy. It is home to many artists. Flamingo Heights is a rural area, which is one of the many reasons we chose to live here in the mid '80s, and once I retired in 2014, moved here permanently. We enjoy the solitude and qiet. Recently I noted that I had to wait a long time for traffic to slow down on 247 - it was the middle of the week, not a weekend, and vehicles were zipping by at an extreme speed; not one single CHP car was in sight. I live very close to La Copine and appreciate the issues Clair mentioned; the dangers to their patrons when tring to negotiate a left turn, and impatient drivers either driving above the speed limit of 55mph, or tailgating, which is even more dangerous. Adding the Glamping site will not only ruin our views, but add to the waste matter; people must pee and poo, and all that excrement and human waste will have to go somewhere, most likely polluting our environment. I cringe for the native flor and fauna - the eagles, crows, desert turtles, rabbits, coyotes, snakes - as well as for our so far pristine environment and clean air.
So proud of these communities for their well-organized efforts to oppose these proposals. As a resident and worker in the Basin, I'm currently struggling to find an affordable rental home. I would like to one day afford to buy but all of the homeowners who are trying to offload their failing vacation rentals are asking insanely unaffordable prices.
Sadly, I've heard people who work for these "development" companies and LLCs and vacation rentals talk about how the desert needs to be "cleaned up" or "saved" or "given some culture" or "transformed" to make it "livable," and they're the ones to do it. So I don't think we've seen the last of these horror story proposals from developers.
These projects always seem like a fun idea to those proposing them until one looks at it realistically and sees how the land in these areas cannot support these huge endeavors. There's no infrastructure to support them. I don't see why it's so hard for developers to "read the room" of these places and see what's already there and what the neighborhoods can support and what needs to be preserved--then realize a hotel or resort space won't fit. It's like trying to zip up those fresh out of the dryer jeans on a particularly "bloaty" day...just ain't happening! Too tight! No wiggle room!
Finally, I've not once yet heard any of the developers talk about how they'll help the communities in which they're building. They need to be honest and come to the community meetings and state honestly their main reason for wanting to build the resort: they want money.
Thank you Laura, Caroline, Eric and Cordelia for your work on this article. I am honored to live in a community that cares so deeply about our natural environs and sustainability in all realms. Hell or high water could not keep Chrix and I from being present at these appeal hearings.
I live on Old Woman Springs Rd, approximately 1 mile North of Buena Vista, and I am extremely grateful for all your efforts. I have to turn left to enter my driveway, on my way home from work (in Landers) and more often than not I pull over to let the South bound traffic go past for fear of being rear ended. Thank you so much for protecting us residents.
As a long time resident of Flamingo Heights, I've been distressed at the proposed changes in zoning and land use. Joshua Tree is known around the world and receives visitors year-round, adding to the area's economy. It is home to many artists. Flamingo Heights is a rural area, which is one of the many reasons we chose to live here in the mid '80s, and once I retired in 2014, moved here permanently. We enjoy the solitude and qiet. Recently I noted that I had to wait a long time for traffic to slow down on 247 - it was the middle of the week, not a weekend, and vehicles were zipping by at an extreme speed; not one single CHP car was in sight. I live very close to La Copine and appreciate the issues Clair mentioned; the dangers to their patrons when tring to negotiate a left turn, and impatient drivers either driving above the speed limit of 55mph, or tailgating, which is even more dangerous. Adding the Glamping site will not only ruin our views, but add to the waste matter; people must pee and poo, and all that excrement and human waste will have to go somewhere, most likely polluting our environment. I cringe for the native flor and fauna - the eagles, crows, desert turtles, rabbits, coyotes, snakes - as well as for our so far pristine environment and clean air.
Bravo! It’s great to see the power of community organizing. I’ve read some about Wonder Inn before but I wasn’t aware of Flamingo 640.
So proud of these communities for their well-organized efforts to oppose these proposals. As a resident and worker in the Basin, I'm currently struggling to find an affordable rental home. I would like to one day afford to buy but all of the homeowners who are trying to offload their failing vacation rentals are asking insanely unaffordable prices.
Sadly, I've heard people who work for these "development" companies and LLCs and vacation rentals talk about how the desert needs to be "cleaned up" or "saved" or "given some culture" or "transformed" to make it "livable," and they're the ones to do it. So I don't think we've seen the last of these horror story proposals from developers.
These projects always seem like a fun idea to those proposing them until one looks at it realistically and sees how the land in these areas cannot support these huge endeavors. There's no infrastructure to support them. I don't see why it's so hard for developers to "read the room" of these places and see what's already there and what the neighborhoods can support and what needs to be preserved--then realize a hotel or resort space won't fit. It's like trying to zip up those fresh out of the dryer jeans on a particularly "bloaty" day...just ain't happening! Too tight! No wiggle room!
Finally, I've not once yet heard any of the developers talk about how they'll help the communities in which they're building. They need to be honest and come to the community meetings and state honestly their main reason for wanting to build the resort: they want money.
Maybe these developers can go down the hill and build resorts there, like the Cotino development. A private resort community that is the first of "Disney's Story Living" communities. Ugh. Here's a blurb from a 2022 real estate blog about it: https://www.bradysandahl.com/blog/2022/8/2/more-details-revealed-about-disneys-cotino-development
Thank you Laura, Caroline, Eric and Cordelia for your work on this article. I am honored to live in a community that cares so deeply about our natural environs and sustainability in all realms. Hell or high water could not keep Chrix and I from being present at these appeal hearings.
I live on Old Woman Springs Rd, approximately 1 mile North of Buena Vista, and I am extremely grateful for all your efforts. I have to turn left to enter my driveway, on my way home from work (in Landers) and more often than not I pull over to let the South bound traffic go past for fear of being rear ended. Thank you so much for protecting us residents.