Huckleberries: SoCal neighbors not looking forward to view of Hagadone

Mogul Duane Hagadone isn’t making a good impression on his equally rich new neighbors in Southern California. They’re honked that the part-time resident from Coeur d’Alene has trashed their prized vista of the mountainous area south of Palm Desert by plopping his mansion of 32,016 square feet on top of a foothill. A new Huckleberries Online reader from the area describes the effect like this: “All you see for miles and miles is rock and cliff and, oops, Hagadone’s house.” Before you dismiss her complaint as sour grapes, you should consider the neighbors who tried to stop Hagadone from expanding his ego, er, palace and grounds further. In an article Wednesday, The Desert Sun/Palm Springs reported that city planning commissioners decided the previous day to allow Hagadone to broaden the foot pad of his mega-house from 38,000 to 61,000 square feet. They ruled – despite angry shouts from the audience – that the expansion wouldn’t affect residents of the surrounding country club. This despite the recommendation by city staff that the project be denied. Seems Hagadone workers had already graded the land without city approval. Also, the newspaper reported, Hagadone’s engineer had submitted plans for a swimming pool that was outside the previously approved grading area. City planners OK’d Hagadone’s request 4-0. E-mails my new pen-pal: “Hagadone’s not from these parts, and we have a tendency to get a little riled when outsiders (mess) with our view.” Welcome to our world, Palm Desert.