Neighbors and environmentalists have sued the city of Twentynine Palms over a proposed luxury development just outside Joshua Tree National Park.

City officials say the project will bring much-needed jobs and revenue.

Opponents allege the city failed to adequately assess potential environmental harms.

Twentynine Palms, Calif. — Desert tortoise burrows dot Cindy Bernard’s property in Indian Cove, a sprawling residential neighborhood just outside Joshua Tree National Park.

Some are so well known by local humans that they have names. There’s Big Boy, a hefty male who likes to roam. And Squiggles, a female who leaves wavy tracks in the sand.

But when consultants hired by developers seeking to build a luxury eco-resort next to Bernard’s 40 acres conducted a field survey, they said they f

See Full Page