The City has adopted laws that regulate the use of land and the design of most commercial and housing projects. The purpose of these laws is to protect the health, safety and welfare of community residents and visitors. Laws such as the Zoning Regulations, architectural review requirements, and Subdivision Regulations, require that people submit applications for project approval to the Community Development Department. The review evaluates the proposals for consistency with the City's General Plan and all other applicable plans and regulations. These applications are acted upon by the Planning Commission and the Architectural Review Commission. Some of the more complex development projects are also acted upon by the City Council. 

The planning staff also prepares and oversees reports that study the environmental effects of development projects and identify ways of avoiding environmental damage.  This work is required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Planning actions are those taken by the City Council, Planning Commission, Architectural Review Commission (ARC), or City staff.  They cover a wide range of activities from the City Council's approval of a housing project to the staff's approval of a permit for a six-foot fence in the rear yard of a house. For more information about development and review please review the Development Review Procedures and Guidelines document

The Historic Preservation Committee has changed its name to the Cultural Resources Preservation Committee (CRPC). The CRPC is coordinated by the Planning Division and comprised of seven members appointed by the City Council.

The Committee was created as part of the City's Cultural Resources Ordinance to help preserve specific areas and buildings within the City that reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, architectural, and archaeological history. The Committee advises the City Council and in all matters relating to the identification, protection, restoration, and retention of historic sites within the City. (Mission Statement)

The Committee conducted a Bus Tour in April 2007 which visited a number of interesting sites throughout Palm Desert and developed a booklet, History and Tour of Palm Desert Historical Sites commemorating this event.

The CRPC regularly scheduled meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Administrative Services Conference Room. An informational booklet about the CRPC can be found here. For more information about the CRPC, please click here for a listing of current Committee Members and upcoming meetings, or contact us via email at planning@palmdesert.gov or call (760) 776-6430.

About Agendas, Staff Reports and Minutes

The Minutes for the CRPC meetings are available after they have been approved at the next regular meeting. Meeting agendas are typically available 72 hours prior to each meeting and may be downloaded by clicking on one of the Event links below. The City of Palm Desert reserves the right to make changes to the order of items listed on the agenda.

Information and Forms

• Top Ten Myths About Historic Preservation
• Palm Desert: An Architectural Tour Into Modernism
• Certificate of Appropriateness Guidelines
• Landmark Cultural Resources Application
• Historic District Cultural Resources Application
• Map of Historic Sites in Palm Desert

On January 13, 2011 the City Council adopted the Mills Act Program for Palm Desert. The Mills Act is state legislation, enacted in 1972, to provide property tax relief to owners of historic properties for the purpose of assisting in the expense of restoration and maintenance. To qualify, a historic property must be listed on a national, state, county, or city register. Although it is applicable to historic income producing properties, it is the single most important economic incentive program available in California for owner occupied historic residential buildings, particularly single-family homes. A Mills Act program is developed in accordance with California Government Code, Article 12, Sections 50280-50290 and California Revenue and Taxation Code, Article 1.9, Sections 439-439.4.

Under the program, property owners receive a significant reduction in local property taxes in exchange for their promise to actively participate in restoring, rehabilitating, repairing and preserving their properties. Participants enter into a perpetual 10-year contract with the City. Contracts are automatically renewed each year and are transferred to new owners when the property is sold. The act provides for inspections, as needed, by city, county, or state officials. Penalties may be imposed for breach of contract or failure to maintain the historic property.

Actual property tax savings are calculated by the County Assessor’s Office using a state-mandated reassessment formula based upon “capitalization of income” rather than simple “market value.” Mills Act participants may realize a property tax savings of averaging about 50% each year depending on property value, net operating income, and other variables.

The City accepts applications during the month of June every year. The internal review process is completed by late fall, when qualified applications are forwarded to City Council for consideration. Approved contracts are forwarded to the County Assessor. Tax credits are effective the following fiscal tax year, when restoration work, according to the contract, may commence. For more information contact Carlos Flores, Cultural Resources Administrator at (760) 776-6478.

• Mills Act Program Manual
• Mills Act Contract
• Mills Act FAQ's
• Mills Act Resolution
• Cultural Resources Ordinance
• Mills Act Law (GOV 50280-50290)