After a decade of dormancy and shifting plans, the vast expanse of the former Palm Springs Country Club may finally be on the verge of its long-awaited transformation into a vibrant residential community. A significant breakthrough occurred recently as the Palm Springs Architectural Review Committee (ARC) granted unanimous approval for the common area landscape designs of the Serena Park housing project. This decision breathes new life into a development that first gained preliminary clearance in 2016 but has since languished through multiple delays and changes in ownership. Now under the stewardship of master developer SunCal, the 126-acre property is poised for tangible progress, with this latest approval serving as a critical catalyst. The green light for landscaping the initial parcels signals a renewed commitment to realizing the vision for a community of nearly 300 homes and a new public park, potentially ending years of uncertainty for the site.
A New Strategy and Modernized Vision
The current approach to developing Serena Park represents a strategic pivot from previous efforts, with master developer SunCal implementing a phased and market-driven plan. Instead of undertaking the entire project at once, SunCal has subdivided the extensive 126-acre property into seven distinct parcels, which will be sold off to individual home builders. The recently approved landscape plans are a key component of this strategy, covering the common areas across three of the southern parcels. SunCal’s intention is to install this foundational landscaping upfront, creating an attractive, “finished” environment that will make the lots significantly more appealing to potential builders. In its review, the Architectural Review Committee was tasked not with enforcing a rigid adherence to the original decade-old plans, but rather with ensuring the new designs maintained the general character and quality of the initial vision. The committee acknowledged that the project’s evolution over the years made a direct, one-to-one comparison impractical, allowing for necessary and modern updates.
The approved plans reflect a thoughtful evolution of the original concept, adapting the community’s design to contemporary environmental standards and recreational trends. A key modification involves an updated tree palette, which now prioritizes drought-tolerant and wind-resistant species far better suited to the harsh realities of the Palm Springs desert climate. This change demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and long-term viability. The physical layout of the development has also been significantly revised; a central “spine road” was reconfigured, which in turn shifted the placement of the landscaped common areas that were the subject of the ARC’s review. Furthermore, the public amenities have been modernized to align with current lifestyle preferences. In a notable swap, two planned tennis courts were replaced with three pickleball courts, a sport that has seen a surge in popularity. The designated locations for community play structures and dog parks have also been moved, optimizing the flow and usability of the shared public spaces for future residents.
From Blueprints to Green Shoots
The unanimous approval from the Architectural Review Committee effectively closed a long chapter of planning and represented a definitive step toward physical construction. With this crucial endorsement secured, SunCal immediately announced its plans to move forward with the implementation of the landscape designs. The developer’s stated goal was to begin planting the new, climate-appropriate trees and vegetation before the onset of the intense summer heat, a practical move designed to give the new greenery the best possible chance to establish itself. This proactive schedule underscored the renewed momentum behind the project, transitioning it from a theoretical concept on paper to a tangible work in progress. The action was seen as the first visible sign of development on the site in years, providing a clear signal to the community and potential builders that the Serena Park project was finally breaking ground and moving toward its ultimate goal of delivering new housing and recreational space. The decision effectively set the stage for the next phase of development, focused on bringing 286 residential lots and a publicly accessible private park to fruition.
