Yes on Measure A will show respect for zoning in La Quinta

Richard Storbo
·3 min read
Dan Shoffstall of Neighbors For Neighborhoods speaks against short-term vacation rentals during a Concerned Citizens of La Quinta event at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.
Dan Shoffstall of Neighbors For Neighborhoods speaks against short-term vacation rentals during a Concerned Citizens of La Quinta event at the La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

So the La Quinta City Council has decided it does respect existing zoning laws by denying the Coral Mountain Wave Park. While I am very glad the La Quinta City Council denied that crazy proposal, I am stunned by the city council’s hypocrisy.

The La Quinta City Council arbitrarily voted years ago to exempt short-term vacation rental businesses from La Quinta residential zoning laws. The city council has continued to throw existing zoning laws—and residents—under the bus, allowing STVR businesses to proliferate in residential neighborhoods, ignoring countless complaints from residents.

This is exactly why Measure A is on the ballot this year.

The La Quinta City Council wants you to believe that they care about residential zoning laws and that they listen to the public. While that may be true for the Coral Mountain project, the La Quinta City Council is actively fighting against Measure A—the initiative to restore La Quinta neighborhoods to their proper residential zoning use.

Don’t be fooled—Measure A will not destroy the city’s finances. Don’t believe the biased “report” coming from the La Quinta City Council about the loss of tax revenue if STVR businesses are banned from residential neighborhoods. In fact, with existing and planned STVR businesses in the 11 designated Tourist Commercial Zones, and the success of the Measure G sales tax, the city’s revenues look better than ever.

Don’t be fooled—most STVR businesses are not owned by retirees trying to supplement their Social Security income. Most STVR businesses are investors making big money on the backs of La Quinta neighborhood residents.

For years, those who oppose STVR businesses in La Quinta neighborhoods have listened to members of the La Quinta City Council claim that people can do whatever they want with their property. This is a ridiculous statement on its face—there are zoning laws as well as health and safety laws that prevent a property owner from doing “anything they want” with their property. The La Quinta City Council continues to claim running an STVR business in a residential neighborhood is simply a property owner exercising their right to do whatever they want.

If residential zoning in La Quinta neighborhoods is of no value to the La Quinta City Council, what would prevent a property owner from running, for example, a car repair shop or a cannabis shop on their private property in a neighborhood?

The La Quinta City Council seems to have two sets of rules—one for STVR businesses and one for everyone else. In the case of the Coral Mountain project, they decided to enforce existing residential zoning laws. But the La Quinta City Council made the decision years ago to exempt STVR businesses from existing residential zoning laws—and they continue to stand by that flawed decision.

Measure A will take the STVR issue out of the fickle hands of the city council and give it back to the citizens of La Quinta.

Vote yes on Measure A!

Richard Storbo lives in La Quinta. Email him at dstorbo@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Yes on Measure A will show respect for zoning in La Quinta