Twentynine Palms City Council approves Ofland Resort Project in lively Freedom Plaza meeting

With passions running high on both sides of the issue, the Twentynine Palms City Council heard from nearly 40 residents and business owners regarding the proposed Ofland Resort. After nearly three hours, the council approved the resolution, enabling development of the 100 cabin resort east of the Indian Cove neighborhood.

Relocating the meeting to the gymnasium at Freedom Plaza was a wise move as there were approximately 100 to 150 interested citizens in attendance. The usual speaker time allotment of three minutes was reduced to two minutes for expediency. Mayor Steven Bilderain, missing a gavel, used his fist. Of the speakers, 17 were in favor of the project and 22 were either against it outright or were asking to return it to the city’s Planning Commission for further review.

Ofland Director of Acquisitions Luke Searcy gave an overview, emphasizing that the project had a 38 percent reduction in square footage from the original October 2023 plan. He stressed benefits to residents – hiring local contractors/workers, 35 to 40 full-time jobs with on-site housing, up to $800K in tax revenue, access to resort restaurant and pool with discounts for military personnel and families. Searcy noted plans to protect the night sky and encourage guests to “turn right on the highway” and explore restaurants and shops downtown.

The 152-acre parcel is located south of Twentynine Palms Highway, east of Lear Avenue, north of Sullivan Road, and west of Shoshone Valley Road. Ofland will develop 42 of those acres and 110 acres would be set aside for conservation.   

Council approval came as a General Plan Amendment to create the Open Space Conservation (OS-C) land use designation – essentially, a new zone – to re-designate the land from Single-Family Residential – Estate (RS-E) to Commercial-Tourist (C-T) and OS-C.  

Residents who voiced strong opposition to the resort cited concerns around threats to wildlife, traffic, noise, and light pollution. Others worried about a precedent of creating a new zone for developers, as well as future lawsuits against the city. By far, the biggest question: For a project of this size up against Joshua Tree National Park, why not an independent Environmental Impact Report?

Supporters, meanwhile, cited local jobs and economic growth with an eye toward future generations.