Projects draw 'ho hum' from outsiders

Public Record, The, May 19, 1995 by Hercules, Neil

LA QUINTA -- When the Landmark Land Co. began acquiring ranch lands about a decade ago for what would be the giant PGA West project, it was at the time, at 1,600 acres, one of the largest projects ever undertaken in the Coachella Valley.

Now that the Winchester Development Co. and the Travertine Corporation and the development team that developed The Quarry have put together three adjoining projects totaling more than 1,300 acres, they are almost proceeding through the planning process with scarcely a "ho hum" from the general public.

The Quarry, a luxury country club project with its own golf course, is already open and several homes constructed, according to the City Planning Department.

Meantime, the other abutting projects -- Travertine and The Green -- are scheduled for their next and perhaps final hearings before the City Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6.

The projects begin with the Quarry laying just south of Lake Cahuilla, at 60th Avenue, and extend south for four miles to Avenue 64 where Travertine, is located.

Both The Green and Travertine are seeking approvals from the Council for their specific plans, general plan amendments and certification of their Environmental Impact Reports.

Both projects, according to the City Planning Department public hearing notice, "could have significant adverse effects on the environment."

Travertine, at 909 acres and 2,300 dwelling units and two golf courses, is by far the largest of the two projects.

Its developers have also included a resort hotel in its application; it is interesting to note that when Landmark Land first proposed the PGA West project 10 years ago, it included a 1,000-room hotel in its application.

The hotel was never built, but the La Quinta Hotel was doubled in size and eventually Landmark holdings were auctioned off by the R.T.C.

Far removed from any commercial shopping, Travertine is proposing a neighborhood commercial center in its application.

Just north of Travertine, The Green calls for 277 homes on 331 acres; it is in an area which is mountainous, with no room for another golf course.

The first hearings were continued from May 2 while the City Planning Department did some checking with the Department of Fish and Game and the School District.

The name Travertine is identified in the dictionary as "a light colored, usually concretionary limestone deposited around limy springs, lakes or streams."