Local & Community
Supervisors Approve Proposed Thermal Beach Club

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted 5-0 to approve the Thermal Beach Club, a privately-funded development that they say will bring many benefits to the community of Thermal and the eastern Coachella Valley region.
Some of those benefits they talked about include an unprecedented contribution towards clean water and park development, investment into extending infrastructure, efforts to develop affordable housing, and job creation, economic development and tax revenue that are critically needed for economic recovery and meeting community needs in the eastern Coachella Valley.
Over the course of the past year, Supervisor V. Manuel Perez requested that county staff and the project applicant meet with community members and address questions. Thermal Beach Club representatives held over 40 meetings and garnered support from the community.
The applicant put forth a community benefit payment of $2,300 per housing unit, totaling $749,800 for a community benefit fund. The community benefit paid by the developer can go towards meeting particular community needs, such as helping more eastern Coachella Valley residents have access to clean drinking water or the building of a new park.
“I want to thank the community advocates and all involved in this project for getting us all to this point,” said Supervisor Perez. “This is unprecedented. This has never been done before in the County of Riverside. With our concerns for affordable housing needs, clean water, lack of infrastructure and basic amenities, we have to establish partnerships and relationships to advance improvements. This project is innovative and a quite exciting plan for developing a portion of the Kohl Ranch, while bringing significant community benefits for the Thermal community and the eastern Coachella Valley.”
The Thermal Beach Club will be built in the Thermal community, on vacant land south of Avenue 64 and west of Polk Street. The visionary project includes a 22-acre lagoon with wave‑making technology for surfing and water recreation, and 34,400 square feet of clubhouse buildings, that include a restaurant and bar. There are 326 dwelling units planned for the development’s full build-out.
During the meeting, the developer representative shared that, as part of this project, the builder will invest approximately $4 million to extend infrastructure in the surrounding area, including paved roads along Polk Street, and extensions of water, electrical and gas lines.
The Thermal Beach Club developers also committed in writing to contribute to the development of affordable housing by seeking land within Kohl Ranch for future affordable housing. If they are unable to identify a site to build affordable housing, the developer has offered to contribute funding towards affordable housing development.
The developer estimated approximately 1,000 to 2,000 construction jobs and 200-400 permanent jobs will be created as a result of this project. The developer pledged to hiring and buying local as feasible.
This information is from Riverside County Office of Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez
By: NBC Palm Springs
October 27, 2020

Latest Instagram Posts
More than 1,000 runners and walkers took on the “World’s Toughest 6K” at the 39th annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge! 🏃♀️🏃♂️ Cathedral City’s Amelio Chio claimed the overall win in 28:08, while Jade Belzberg took first place in the women’s division with a time of 30:42. Local athletes from across the Coachella Valley also made their mark on the challenging course! #PalmSprings #TramRoadChallenge #CoachellaValley #Running #RoadRace NBCPalmSprings

Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Damian Walls extending the play for the TD, 2) Aiden Pope with the 100 yard pick-six, 3) Adam Tremper breaking tackles for the TD, 4) Trey Boulton snagging the contested catch, or 5) Devin Session with the TD throw on the run #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
We’re in Palm Desert this morning as demonstrators gather for the No Kings rally, joining a nationwide day of protests and calls for political accountability. We’re talking with people at the rally about why they’re here and what they hope their voices will accomplish. Events are taking place across the country, with organizers also encouraging voter participation ahead of the election. Follow NBC Palm Springs for more voices and scenes from today’s rally. #NBCPalmSprings #PalmDesert #NoKings #CoachellaValley #Protest CommunityVoices
We’re in Cathedral City this morning for the No Kings: Vote Early event, joining communities across the country focused on getting voters to the polls. We’re talking with people here about why they came out and what motivated them to participate. Nearly 3,000 events are taking place nationwide to encourage early voting and civic engagement. Stay with NBC Palm Springs for local voices and perspectives from today’s event. #NBCPalmSprings #CathedralCity #NoKings #VoteEarly #CoachellaValley CommunityVoices
“NO KINGS: VOTE EARLY”: Residents gathered at Palm Springs City Hall for the “No Kings: Vote Early” event, sharing what brought them out and why making their voices heard matters. #NoKings #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #VoteEarly #civicengagement
Meet Gavin, aka “Banana Boy”! The Coachella Valley Firebirds fan favorite stopped by Very Caliente to share how his love of Fortnite inspired his iconic Peely costume — and his signature dance to “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” on the jumbotron. And yes, we finally got to see the face behind the banana! #NBCPalmSprings #VeryCaliente #CVFirebirds #BananaBoy #CoachellaValley
The #NorteFire is spreading near San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. Fire crews are working to contain the blaze as conditions develop. Stay tuned to NBC Palm Springs for updates. #NorteFire #SouthernCalifornia #Wildfire #SanJuanCapistrano SanClemente NBCPalmSprings
Strong winds are expected across Southern California today, with speeds reaching 25 to 35 mph. Officials warn of possible falling trees, downed power lines and hazardous driving conditions, especially for high-profile vehicles. Southern California Edison says emergency crews will be on standby for possible power outages. If you see a downed power line, stay away and call 911. #SouthernCalifornia #CoachellaValley #WindAdvisory #PowerOutage #SouthernCaliforniaEdison NBCPalmSprings
Sordid Lives is returning to Palm Canyon Theater October 30 through November 15! Playwright Del Shores joins NBC Palm Springs’ Tod Macofsky to talk about the beloved production and its long history in the Coachella Valley. Want to see the show? NBC Palm Springs is giving away two tickets! Enter on the promotions page at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SordidLives #DelShores #PalmCanyonTheater #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley DesertEntertainment NBCPalmSprings
🗣️ NO KINGS DEMONSTRATIONS ARE COMING BACK TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY! Thousands of demonstrations are planned nationwide Saturday, including FIVE right here in the Valley. Organizers say the goal is to help eligible voters prepare for the polls and know their rights. 📍 Events are planned in Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert and Indio. Will you be hitting the streets this weekend? 👀 #NoKings #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Indio #CaliforniaNews
