Dick Kelly serves as Council Liaison to the Palm Desert Housing Commission. He is dedicated to working for diversified quality housing for all people who wish to live in Palm Desert.
Dick Kelly understands that other than quality Public Safety and education opportunities, quality housing and well kept neighborhoods are what make Palm Desert a desirable place to live and do business.
Neighborhood Housing Development
Dick Kelly believes that one of the negative aspects of quality residential development is the constant pressure to increase density. Dick Kelly is committed to work for quality architectural design, open space view corridors, drought tolerant landscaping, low densities and protecting the hillsides. Dick Kelly is dedicated to working with developers to insure Palm Desert preserves a quality residential life style for its citizens.
"Dick Kelly has been a valuable friend and neighbor to Shadow Mountain Golf Club. Through his efforts in promoting quality neighborhoods in Palm Desert, he has created an environment that enhances the quality of life for all residents."
Conrad Kauble
President, Shadow Mountain Golf Club
Affordable Housing
Every city in the State of California is required by law to provide affordable housing. If the city has a redevelopment program, and Palm Desert does, the law requires that 20% of all redevelopment funds be used for affordable housing.
Palm Desert’s redevelopment program is one of the most successful in the State of California and is a major reason for Palm Desert’s sound financial position. These funds are used to provide streets, interchanges, storm systems, parks, sewers, and under grounding programs, to name just a few of the benefits.
As a result of this success Palm Desert has the largest affordable housing program in the Coachella Valley.
Dick Kelly works to insure Palm Desert’s affordable housing is of the highest quality. They are a credit to the neighborhoods where they are built. The only way they can be recognized is that they are some of the best looking homes in the area.
The North Sphere/University Area
The North Sphere has two distinct areas. The Gateway area in the west where most of the commercial development is located; and The University Park Area in the east near the universities.
The North Sphere is Palm Desert’s last area were there are large tracts of vacant land to be developed.
Dick Kelly works to insure that this development is compatible with the quality Palm Desert is noted for. The challenge is the pressure to meet state mandated guidelines for housing units. Because of this pressure, the General Plan adopted by Palm Desert provides for high density residential neighborhoods. Dick Kelly has always been opposed to high density overbuilding in residential areas. Palm Desert is currently revising its housing element and it is important to keep housing density low.
Dick Kelly believes this is the last opportunity to stop over development of the North Sphere. He is opposed to high density in the North Sphere and will continue to work for a reduced density in residential areas with open spaces for all residents to enjoy.
"We fell in love with Palm Desert's Shadow Mountain area over 12 years ago while visiting friends. We both agreed that when we retired in 2005 this is where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. My husband's career made it possible to fulfill our dream 5 year's sooner than expected and we moved here in 2000, in June. One evening in July, less than a month in an unfamiliar house, my husband out of town, all the power went out. No phone, couldn't get my car out of the garage, didn't know where candles, flashlights or fuse box was - and it was hot. I went out back by the pool and started crying. A voice over the fence asked if I was OK. You don't get to pick your next door neighbors and we hadn't met as yet - but that evening was when I met Dick Kelly for the first time. Great sense of humor, calm in a crisis and a treasured friend for life! He saw a problem and fixed it. A few weeks later, while watching a local TV station, candidates for Palm Desert City Council were asked what they would do or change to make our city better and why we should vote for them. I was not aware that Dick Kelly was or had been on the City Council or Mayor but there he was waiting to give his answer. All the candidates were eloquent and had wonderful responses - Dick's response to the question was so unforgettable to me, I called my husband and said, we're voting for Dick Kelly, not because he's a wonderful neighbor, but his response made sense to me and cut to the chase - He simply replied, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!'
Dick and Mary Helen are remarkable people. They give so much to so many and still have time to give more. My next door neighbor has more energy than men half his age and a memory I envy. His calendar and time management skills put me to shame - but he makes me laugh and gets my sense of humor. I know Dick has so much more he wants to accomplish for the City he loves so much, and I just want everyone to know what an incredible man he is.
Donna Kauble
Palm Desert resident
Experience
Knowledge
Vision
Service
Current
Previous
Honors
Public Safety
Police
Fire
Ambulance
Education
Preschool
K through 12
College of the Desert
Cal State San Bernardino
Palm Desert Campus
Environment
Recycling
Drought Tolerant Landscaping
Natural Gas Busses
Street Legal Golf Carts
Palm Desert
Energy Program
Economy
Experience
Sales
Transit Occupancy Tax
Special Events
Small Business
Hotels & Inns
El Paseo
Public Art
Shopping Centers/Mall
Quality Of Life
Streets, Roads, Overpasses
Parks
Desert Willow
Citizen Participation
Historical Preservation
Housing
Neighborhood Development
Affordable Housing
North Sphere
University Area
Endorsements
Contact
Visit Our Blog!
Endorsements | Visit Our Blog! | Contact