Environmental group sues Palm Springs over approval of 9-story hotel
Athena Jreij
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – An environmental group known as SAFER, Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility, is suing the city of Palm Springs over their approval of the 9-story Nexus Hotel.
The hotel, which would also serve as a condominium near the Palm Springs Convention Center, was approved by the city council in November. Once constructed, it could be the city’s tallest building at nearly 100 feet.
Now, environmentalists say the city council’s approval violated the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, that requires agencies to assess and limit significant environmental harm.
Lawyers representing SAFER allege the city did not review the project through an Environmental Impact Report as mandated under CEQA, and therefore has not considered the development’s full impacts.
“The court should require the project to be stopped and require the city to conduct the proper environmental review, which hopefully will require the city to consider alternatives, to consider mitigation measures that could reduce the impacts of this project,” Richard Drury, who represents SAFER said.
Drury says multiple experts deployed by the group found it could include increased carbon emissions from traffic, the threatening of special protected species on the land and harm air quality from construction.
“They found 13 special status species, so these are protected species who use the site. It will have very significant traffic impacts. In fact, it’s eliminating almost half of the parking for the Palm Springs Convention Center. Those cars have to go somewhere and they’ll spend time circling the area, looking for parking. We also had an air quality engineer review the project and found it will have very significant diesel impacts during construction and from use of backup generators. It could also increase Valley Fever cases,” Drury said.
The suit alleges the city passed the project with a mitigated negative declaration, which applies to projects that will have less than significant environmental impacts.
Now, the group hopes teh suit will force the city to reckon with and mitigate the risks.
“The diesel emissions can be mitigated by requiring the use of modern clean construction equipment, that can lower emissions by nearly 90%. Biological impacts can be mitigated by requiring site surveys, removing protected species, perhaps creating habitat for them off site,” Drury said.
Opponents to the development have also argued it clashes with the aesthetics of Palm Springs and it’s mountain views. Environmentalists say if the height of the building were shorter, it would also lessen environmental impacts.
In 2025, the city defended the project by stating Section 14 zoning rules allow for buildings up to 100 feet on such properties.
Drury says they’re now waiting for the city to set a date for a CEQA settlement conference.
Experts say a lawsuit like this could delay construction for years.
News Channel 3 reached out to the city of Palm Springs and Nexus Development, but have yet to hear back.