Madelyn Hinsvark Letter to the Editor March 31, 1986- "We need to help save the beauty, charm and uniqueness of our city."

The late Madelyn Hinsvark lived her life serving those without a voice- the animals. 

She made her 22 acre home a sanctuary for animals. 

Mrs. Hinsvark herself made it known in her Letter to the Editor 40 years ago that overdevelopment was problematic, so WHY is ANYONE allowing the sale of her land to developers- specifically WHY is the Hinsvark Family Trustee allowing this?

Editor, Desert Sun:

We need Bill Kuhlman on the Palm Springs City Council. 

We need to help save the beauty, charm and uniqueness of our city. 

These attributes are know world-wide, attracting tourists, many of whom have become permanent residents.

Bill does not advocate a no-growth policy but strongly feels the city must slow down the rate of growth and carefully assess the damage and the benefits each new project will cause to the quality of life in Palm Springs. 

Do you want the following to continue?:

1. High-rise buildings.
2. Uncontrolled traffic.
3. Council members frequently having to abstain from voting because of special interests.
4. Inadequate facilities, hours and lack of sufficient personnel in our Animal Shelter.

Bill Kuhlman is the first candidate I have heard express a need to enlarge and improve our Animal Shelter. 

The city grows but the Aminal Shelter stays the same as it was 25 years ago.

Bill has been a resident of Palm Springs since 1975. He teaches English and mathematics at Palm Springs High School. He spent 26 years in the United States Navy and retired in 1972 as a lieutenant commander.

Vote for Bill Kuhlman for City Council on Tuesday, April 8.

MADELYN HINSVARK

Palm Springs

Read about their home sanctuary here: https://www.saveourdesert.com/2025/10/madelyn-and-kenneth-hinsvark-were.html

The late Madelyn and Kenneth Hinsvark curated their 22 acre parcel as a refuge for wildlife for the past 4 decades, according to Desert Sun March 3, 1978

"Landscaping has been done with care for the creatures of the outdoors since the Hinsvarks are nature lovers"

For the past at least FORTY SEVEN YEARS, this 22 acre parcel of land has been PROTECTED and CURATED as a REFUGE for wildlife... 

but now, suddenly, all those animals who have learned for generations that this land between the mountain and wash was safe-- will now be DISPLACED and DIE?

All due to the trust selling to a DEVELOPER? 
Which seems the exact OPPOSITE of what the late Madelyn and Kenneth Hinsvark intended? 

An archived Desert Sun news article profile from March 3, 1978 noted that the Hinsvark home 

"...seems to belong so much to the desert that coveys of quail and scurrying rabbits thrive in the sagebrush and song birds send their cheery notes heavenward, undisturbed."

Word around the neighborhood is that Mr Hinsvark used to call his 22 acre parcel of land a 'dog park' and never intended for it to be developed.

It seems that Madelyn and Kenneth Hinsvark loved nature, so I cannot imagine they would be too happy to learn the trustees are allegedly selling their 22 acres to a developer?

It's things like this that make one wonder what the Hinsvark Trust & Hinsvark Marital Trust instructs about this property?🤔

Is the executor honoring the intent of the trust? 

Maybe the executor needs to do some reading on who Madelyn and Kenneth Hinsvark were and what they would have wanted.

This article is available online, they should start there.

See article here: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19780303.2.86&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------

🚨HUGE SECURITY RISK- Fern Canyon Drive Slated as Access Road for New Development?

This seems so stupid, who would sign off on this?

Even though the 4 acre home (red outline) and 18 acre lot (blue outline) are owned by separate trusts, they are being sold together seemingly because the house would be one of the access roads to the proposed development, the only other entry being Fern because Belardo access is blocked by Indian Land.

These are the parcels surrounding the proposed development, which illustrate why Fern and La Mirada are the only access roads for the proposed development, allegedly.

A new housing development would require additional access roads, and that Ramon Road, Fern Canyon Drive & La Mirada are about to become MUCH more busy.

🚨This seems like a HUGE safety risk in the event of an evacuation, for 90 additional homes to inundate these small neighborhood streets, which are not meant to sustain that level of traffic.

Even more concerning, our BIGHORN SHEEP gather at the base of the Lykken Trail at the end of Ramon at La Mirada-- One must ask, WHO in their right minds actually thinks that this is okay?

There are speed bumps all along Ramon to protect the animals and hikers for a REASON.

If this is a concern, be sure to email City Planning!

Subject: Opposition to 22 Acre Development, & Turning Fern Canyon into a Main Access Road

To: 

planning@palmspringsca.gov

cityclerk@palmspringsca.gov 

Scott.Stiles@palmspringsca.gov

Noriko.Kikuchi@palmspringsca.gov

David.Ready@palmspringsca.gov

Ron.deHarte@palmspringsca.gov

Christopher.Hadwin@palmspringsca.gov

Dear Members of the Planning Department,

I am writing to express my opposition to a housing development in the Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood between La Mirada and Belardo, south of Ramon.

This critical area at the base of the mountain supports fragile desert habitat and is vital for native wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bobcats, burrowing owls, nighthawks, and other species that depend on undisturbed open space. 

Further development in this ecologically sensitive zone would threaten these animals, intensify pressure on water resources, disrupt hydrology, and erode the natural character that makes Palm Springs unique, and which is becoming scarce in the city.

It is my understanding that Fern Canyon Drive & La Mirada would then be slated as an access road which I vehemently oppose. 

These roads are not suitable to handle an influx of traffic in an evacuation situation, not only that but also the PROTECTED bighorn sheep gather at the end of Ramon & La Mirada, where the Lykken Trail head is.

I ask that my comments be entered into the public record and that I be notified of upcoming hearings or opportunities for public input.

Thank you for your time and for your dedication to preserving Palm Springs' environment and quality of life.


Sincerely, 
[Your Name] 
[Neighborhood or Community Name] 
Palm Springs, CA

🚨Palm Springs, this is URGENT: 22 Acre Lot in Contingency, Sale Threatens to Displace Wildlife

We are trying to raise funds to preserve the land and meanwhile it appears the sellers have accepted an offer from a developer who will likely turn this area by the wash into high density housing.

The NOISE, destruction of natural habitat, and the devastation these developers bring have made Palm Springs unrecognizable.

Please help stop this transaction from going through.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Send Your Email Today!

The Desert Sun- March 3, 1978- Profile on the Hinsvark property documenting they used their land as a safe haven for wildlife.

Land Use: Agricultural Land

Trust & Trustee Information of the 18 acre lot

Trust & Trustee Information for the 4 acre 770 La Mirada Property

For 50+ years the Hinvarks curated the land as a safe haven for animals, where they are an essential part of the ecological landscape from the mountain in between the washes.

Even though the 4 acre home (red outline) and 18 acre lot (blue outline) are owned by separate trusts, they are being sold together seemingly because the lot for the house is needed to be one of the access roads to the proposed development, the only other entry being Fern because Belardo access is blocked by Indian Land.

Protected Bighorn Sheep gather at the end of Ramon by the Lykken Trail, which is slated to be a main access road for new development.

These are the parcels surrounding the proposed development, which illustrate why Fern and La Mirada are the only access roads for the proposed development, allegedly.

This is from the County Clerk Assessor Records:
Property Type "Agricultural Land- Transitional"

Protect Your Legacy! Don't Let Your TRUSTEE Sell Your Property to DEVELOPERS!

The wash area off of Belardo near Ramon and back by the mountain, is one of the few untouched land areas that the local wildlife like big horn sheep, bobcats, mountain lions, bunnies, roadrunners, toads, frogs, snakes, skunks, raccoons, ringtails, foxes, birds, etc here can safely call home.

UNTIL NOW.

Word on the street is that a developer is set to buy this land and turn into high density housing.

This is WRONG.

The community should be given a chance to save our wildlife.

IS NOTHING SACRED?

This should have a preservation status and environmental protections. 

We will soon give details on how to help in this mission to SAVE our desert and preserve it in the Oswit Land Trust.

Stay tuned.