Profiled 5-6-24

Palm Springs, California, population 45,091 (2021), is located 100 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The city’s general plan uses the term density transfer and establishes policies designed to reduce or eliminate development on steep slopes and areas with sensitive biological habitats, including hillsides, washes, and canyons. The general plan specifically calls for the use of density transfer to preserve views and natural resources in Chino Cone. 

Zoning Codes Section 92.21.1.07 Transfer of Density, refers to TDR as a means of preserving open space, significant views, and other valuable characteristics of property within the ESA-SP zone. 

Within any planning area, density can be transferred between properties at a one-to-one ratio subject to approval of a specific plan. The transfer is evaluated on the basic of its effect on open space, views, minimizing grading, and reduction in the need for public services.

When density is transferred between planning areas, a specific plan is needed for all of the planning areas involved and evaluated on the basis of its effect on open space, views, minimizing grading, and reduction in the need for public services. Receiving sites can achieve a bonus of 1.2 units for every unit transferred from the sending site(s). 

Transfers outside planning areas can increase receiving site density by 1.2 bonus units for each unit transferred from a sending site using an appropriate entitlement mechanism including specific plan, CUP, or planned unit development. The transfer is evaluated on the basis of its effect on open space, views, minimizing grading, and reduction in the need for public services.

The following performance standards apply:

• Transfers are not allowed to Planning Areas 2. 3. 6, 7, or 10.
• Transfers to Planning Areas 5, 8, or 9 are only allowed from Planning Areas 1 through 10.
• For any receiver site, the applicable specific plan must include an amendment to the applicable permitted land use densities of the Palm Springs general plan.