Smoke Tree Commons

Smoke Tree Commons, the large shopping center planned for E. Palm Canyon Drive at Barona, won approval from the Palm Springs city counsel on a unanimous vote. Only Mayor Pro Tem Ginny Foat had reservations about the project. In April the Planning Commission rejected the project on grounds that there would not be enough parking and there was concern about the architecture. The Desert Sun has the story

One concern of some in the community is the impact such a large development will have on traffic in the area. The plan calls for a new traffic signal at E Palm Canyon and La Reina Way. Concern is this will create a bottle neck. As a resident of Los Compadres/La Reina Estates, I think a traffic signal or pedestrian cross walk is mandatory at the new "intersection". Many in the neighborhood, I imagine, will walk to the new shopping center, especially if a specialty grocery store, such as Whole Foods, would locate there. The city counsel wants a new grocery store in the shopping center. Do we want La Reina Way opened up to thru traffic? Probably not. A traffic signal, however, is of utmost importance in linking the new shopping center with the Los Compadres neighborhood