The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of southern California last week released a draft 402-page environmental impact report of its proposed casino and hotel expansion in downtown Palm Springs that finds minimal impacts. The Vision Agua Caliente Master Plan includes 18 acres.
The tribe’s plans for the Spa Resort Casino are to add 68,000 square feet and build a hotel with 350 rooms to replace the iconic Spa Resort Hotel, which was closed three years ago and demolished. Also in the plan are 60,000 SF of meeting space, a mixed-use cultural/retail center and a 40,000 SF spa and fitness center.
The report, prepared by Meridian Consultants LLC found that potential impacts could all be mitigated.
Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon told News Channel 3: “We have a very good relationship with the Agua Caliente Tribe of Cahuilla Indians. I personally talk to Chairman Grubbe frequently, and it’s a partnership because Chairman Grubbe has told me what’s good for Palm Springs is good for all of us, and he believes that and I believe that. I know they want to work with us and I’m confident that they’ve been waiting to see what we’re doing down town before they moved along with their plans to make sure they were complimentary. However, they are a sovereign nation, so we have no control over what they do.”
