A controversial luxury development proposal in Riverside, California, is going through multiple rounds of countywide review, sparking a backlash from local eco-conscious families.
The project, named Thermal Ranch Club, will span more than 600 acres in the East Coachella Valley’s Thermal community and will include an array of luxury amenities, from private stables to a 150-room hotel.
This is a blast of multi-million dollar opulent splendor just minutes from the nearest schools and mobile home community.
Unfortunately, NBC Palm Springs reports that the completed project may be more of a burden than a blessing for the geothermal region.
Critics note that the lack of appropriate public regulations regarding feces and dust could allow Thermal Ranch Club to generate uncontrolled pollution in an already arid region, where many residents have limited access to health care at best.
NBC reported that “while the environmental impact report submitted by the developers addressed some public feedback, critics said it failed to adequately mitigate potential harm to surrounding communities.”
In addition to potentially severe air and soil pollution, the project could also become an important outlet for the nearby Colorado River, an important water source for the Coachella Valley population.
Local resident Ashley Vega told NBC the club requires an estimated 570 million gallons of water annually, depriving human communities and nearby ecosystems of essential livelihoods.
What’s more, with much of Southern California already experiencing hot, dry weather, further burdening the region’s water sources will likely only exacerbate dust storms, heat waves, and wildfires.
“[They’re] Build a project that doesn’t take into account the community that’s already here; it’s not going to fit the community that’s already here and it’s going to end up burdening the community that’s already here,” Vega concluded.
Riverside County supervisors ultimately approved the proposal in December, NBC reported. County planning staff said they believe they have plans in place to mitigate environmental impacts, The Desert Sun reported.
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, who supports the project, said the county will consider community concerns, particularly those of low-income residents who fear they will not see financial benefits from the investment.
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