2021-03-23 BurkeTuesday, March 23, 2021 at 10:49:04 Pacific Daylight Time
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Subject:Wave Park Coral Mountain Resort
Date:Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 10:19:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From:Burke, John
To:consulGngplanner@laquintaca.gov
CC:Sarah "Nayong" Burke (sarahburke888@gmail.com)
Ms Nicole Sauviat Criste,
Consulting Planner,
City of La Quinta
78-495 Calle Tampico,
La Quinta, Ca. 92253,
Dear Ms Criste
My wife and I have a home at 81805 Andalusia, La Quinta CA 92253. We are concerned with
the proposed Wave Park at Coral Mountain Resort.
We have concerns with the following items which we have noted in the city planning
documents:
1. Light pollution. This tract is in one of the last unspoiled areas of La Quinta where total
darkness survives and our Andalusian observation of the beautiful desert night sky is
uncompromised. This project proposes the installation of 80 ft high light poles all along
the wave trench to allow for nighttime commercial activity which will likely completely
obliterate the night sky. The area where the poles will sit is already about 20ft higher
than Andalusia, which increases the likelihood that the emitted light will shine straight
into our development. All desert cities have specific and strict rules on light pollution, so
how come this can be tolerated by the city planners? And make no mistake, this will be 7
days per week all year long.
2. Traffic and visual pollution. This tract was zoned to be a low density residential area
(with full golf) and this new proposal will create substantial additional traffic to/from a full
fledged commercial sports complex, hotel, multiple restaurants and higher density
residential housing (up to 600 units – many likely short term rentals). The hotel, which
was originally presented as two story maximum, is now planned as 4-story and will
obstruct view of Coral Mountain from pretty much every residence with that view. Traffic
on Madison will increase by many hundreds of vehicles.
3. Noise pollution. The proposed wave equipment generates substantial and constant
noise (minimum 75 decibels) that will travel far in the desert and is pretty much as if you
are living next to a busy freeway. The developers admit that the wave operation will
involve loudspeaker announcement of every wave. Noise pollution should be
investigated more vigorously than stated in section 4.2.12.
4. Seismic disturbance. The proposed wave equipment by its very nature generates
vibration (not to mention the additional seismic disturbance generated by the resulting
wave crashing) which will easily travel long distances in the loose desert soil. Pool and
jacuzzi leaks for the neighboring properties will not be far behind. Seismic disturbance
should be investigated more vigorously than stated in section 4.2.12.
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5. Quality of life reduction. The hours of operation of this facility have been insufficiently
clarified but there is a distinct impression the wave operation may be started as early as
6 in the morning and go well into the night? This should be considered unacceptable in
a once peaceful residential area where the only disturbance might be an errand golf
ball. It totally ignores the original zoning intent for this tract. The zoning change request
should be more thoroughly investigated and the change to commercial should be
opposed.
Thank you for your consideration.
P. John Burke
310 490 5400
P. John Burke | Partner Emeritus
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90067
jburke@akingump.com | akingump.com | Bio
Mobile 310 490 5400
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