Nearly two years after plans to bring an In-N-Out Burger to Palm Springs were first made public, the fast-food chain remains stuck in a delayed city review process due to ongoing disagreements over architectural standards.
The city’s Architectural Review Committee granted conditional approval to the project in a 3-2 vote. The decision marks the sixth time the committee has reviewed the proposed 3,886-square-foot restaurant in the Smoke Tree Village shopping center, located southeast of downtown along Highway 111. Though the Palm Springs Planning Commission initially approved the general project over a year ago, the design panel holds authority over ensuring commercial developments match the Southern California desert city’s distinct aesthetic.
Despite recent design revisions by In-N-Out—including softening bright red accents and flattening angular retro rooflines—several panel members expressed frustration with the company’s cooperation during the October 19 meeting. Vice Chair John Walsh noted that the developer had either ignored or only partially addressed roughly a dozen of the 18 design changes previously requested by city officials. Although Walsh ultimately voted in favor of conditional approval, he remarked that the review process had been exceptionally difficult.
Other panel members voted against the proposal. Committee member Charles Elliott criticized the chain’s resistance to creating a custom structure tailored to Palm Springs, comparing the proposed building to suburban developments near Los Angeles rather than something special suited for the desert municipality.
Residents also spoke out against the design during the meeting’s public comment period. David Murphy, a local resident and city planning commissioner speaking in a personal capacity, voiced strong opposition to the look of the building, describing it as out of place for that section of the city. Community members pointed out that In-N-Out has built customized, non-standard storefronts in other cities, challenging the company’s assertion that it could not compromise its corporate identity. Resident Paul Valentino cited company locations in Westwood Village, Westlake Village, Mill Valley, and Flagstaff, Arizona, as examples where the chain adapted to historic or distinct local styles.
Another resident, Chris Menrad, urged the city via phone to push for a higher design standard, pointing to the Westwood Village location as proof that the company can execute unique architecture. In-N-Out representatives are now required to satisfy all 18 outstanding design conditions set by the panel before the project can proceed to construction, and any potential public appeals must also be resolved.
In-N-Out operates nearby locations across the Coachella Valley—including in La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, and Thousand Palms—but currently has no locations within Palm Springs city limits. Other Southern California cities have also pushed back against new In-N-Out locations, such as Culver City, which earlier this year enacted a citywide ban on new drive-thrus following public opposition to a proposed drive-thru restaurant.
