March 30, 2008
The valley's oldest city is looking to more than double in size in two years by pushing its boundaries north of Interstate 10.
If Indio has its way, a desolate 34-square-mile stretch of land north of I-10 nestled between the Little San Bernardino Mountains and Indio Hills would become part of Indio, stretching the city's boundaries to 62 square miles.
Over the next decade, parts of that barren desert now often used for illicit target practice could be transformed by thousands of homes and 10,000 more residents. Stores, warehouses, a business park, a police substation, schools and hiking trails also could dot the landscape.
Decades ago, Indio was known as the hub of the valley and is positioning itself to reclaim that title. When the next housing wave occurs, the city wants to be poised and ready.
"What they're doing is planning a future," said John Husing, a Redlands-based economist and consultant for the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.
"The city of Indio is setting itself up to be the urban hub of the valley ... a job hub of the future Coachella Valley."
Planning for that area - a portion of it branded as "Dillon Canyon" - is happening now, but development wouldn't begin until the slumping economy and housing market rebound, city officials say.
When that will happen, no one can say, but officials point to the city's history as evidence of their determination.
Indio is the oldest and most populous Coachella Valley city - with 77,147 residents - and will continue to be into the future, City Manager Glenn Southard said.
"Most of the valley growth is all concentrated east of Washington Street and it will continue to do that. It's a matter of how fast," he said.
Not everyone supports the city's desire to grow.
Some county residents who want to guard their rural lifestyle frown on encroachment from Indio. And some Indio residents would rather the city stay as is.
Water, and whether the valley's limited supply can support that kind of development, are also concerns.
A master plan that looks at how public safety, schools and infrastructure - such as sewer and water - will be delivered is underway, city officials said.
"Indio's not just blindly annexing to become an empire. Our growth is a managed growth - in that we make sure we can manage the areas we annex," Sean Moore, a senior planner who is leading expansion efforts for the city.
What do you think?
David