2021-03-31 NovakTO: City of La Quinta
FROM: Bridgett & Philip Novak
DATE: 3/31/2021
RE: Coral Mountain proposed Wavepark development
We are homeowners in Andalusia.
We are VERY concerned about the proposed Wavepark development.
We attended yesterday’s Zoom Scope Meeting and want to echo ALL of the concerns expressed
by our La Quinta neighbors. Notice that not one person showed up in support of the project. And
we are confident that the people who did attend represent just a small percentage of the
thousands living in the surrounding residential developments who also oppose the project.
We feel we must point out that the categories scheduled to be addressed in the EIR omit several
very important issues. For instance, LIGHT POLLUTION. Why, oh why, isn’t this being
addressed? For the developers to casually claim that their 80-foot towers will have “directional”
lights pointed towards the water is totally insufficient. A) How many light towers will there be?
B) A study needs to be conducted with actual water and a backdrop of a rock-wall mountain (like
Coral Mountain) to determine how much deflected light will bounce off the water and the
mountains...and from how far away the light towers and their bulbs will be visible. Our home is
deep within Andalusia and we can see the entire face of Coral Mountain from our backyard.
Those light towers and their bulbs will now be visible. That is NOT acceptable. C) What about
other lights throughout the development? There are walking paths, outdoor dining/entertainment
areas, bike paths, homes, a hotel, a restaurant, etc. planned for this project. All will have outdoor
lighting that has to be measured and evaluated. D) Are there going to be big screens (aka
jumbotrons) showing surfers every day the wave basin is open and entertainers for their special
events? Those light emissions will also have to be evaluated.
The ability to see surrounding mountains, palm trees, and the night sky is a HUGE part of what
makes La Quinta the “gem of the desert”. This is a very serious issue and MUST be studied in
the EIR process.
Other topics that MUST be added to the EIR are:
1) FLOOD RISK – how does the addition of a 20-acre, 18-million-gallon basin of water
impact the flood risk / insurance costs of the surrounding residential communities?
2) THE EFFECT OF COACHELLA VALLEY’S STRONG WINDS – this effect needs to
be studied in relation to the water in the wave basin, to the wave-making machinery, to
the tall public announcement and light towers, to equipment that would be negatively
impacted by blowing wind and sand.
Water usage is on the EIR list, but we want to add a strenuous endorsement to Diane Rebryna’s
presentation about the HUGE amounts of water required by a wave basin, the evaporation
concerns and the fact that the developer intends to tap into the aquifer which supplies the
drinking water for Coachella Valley residents...likely affecting its quality and quantity. As they
say in Texas, where one of us is from, “Don’t mess with my water!”
Did you know that this project plans to create “the biggest, rideable open barrel, human-made
waves in the world” (see https://wavepoolmag.com/california-desert-updates-surf-parks-still-
target-2022-23-launch/) and ”the world’s largest manmade waves” (see
https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/yoga-wellness/kelly-slater-coral-mountain-wave-
pool)
As other speakers pointed out, how can this HUGE amount of water usage (we’re not even
counting the water used by the private homes, hotel, restaurant, landscaping, etc.) be
contemplated for a BIG project when the city, county and state are asking ALL residents and
businesses to conserve? Even the golf courses around here are urged to recycle and/or use
reclaimed water. What is Coral Mountain’s developer being asked to do?
We also believe the developer is far too cavalier with regard to NOISE concerns. It is really
laughable that the developer points to casual noise studies they conducted at Lemoore. As Kathy
Weiss said, “that’s apples and oranges”. First of all, Lemoore is surrounded by flat agricultural
fields and no residential developments. They apparently intend to build this wave basin right up
against Coral Mountain. Noises created in that basin will echo off the rock face and reverberate
far and wide!!! And today’s presentation didn’t even talk about the grinding sound of the train-
like rail system that moves back and forth or the hydrafoils that help create the waves.
And what about the tower where the Public Announcer sits and from where he/she broadcasts
upcoming waves, musical choices, safety warnings, etc.? It will be a public announcement
system with loud speakers! Funny that the drawings shown today did NOT even show that
tower...or address the NOISE and public eyesore that will be created by it.
And what about the jet ski(s)? Those weren’t mentioned in the presentation either!! Their own
description of how their wave basin operates describes at least one jet ski full-time to run surfers
back to the beginning of the wave experience. The above-mentioned “Travel & Leisure” article
says the basin will accommodate 25 surfers at a time...so there will have to be multiple jet skis
ferrying surfers back & forth and available for emergencies. And there will likely be other jet
ski-type devices in the water, too, to rescue people who are injured and to take photographs of
the surfers (since everyone will, no doubt, want a visual memory of their experience...and which
will likely be another way for the developers to make money).
Utilities are on the EIR, but we’d like to ask if the project’s need for huge amounts of continuous
power will affect the cost, availability and/or dependability of electricity, water, gas, Internet and
WiFi in surrounding residential communities and if the current IID facility on Avenue 58 will
have to be expanded – and thus be noisier – which will negatively impact the PGA-Legends and
Andalusia neighborhoods in particular (we already hear noise from that facility whenever they
have any kind of construction/expansion project taking place, including just paving the parking
lot, making roof repairs, etc.).
Also on the EIR list, and worthy of expert, in-depth analysis is a thorough SOIL STUDY /
SEISMIC ACTIVITY / HYDROLOGY / GEOLOGY report, addressing among other things,
questions like how could local quakes impact the wave basin and alluvial soil of the Coral
Mountain landscape and how will the wave basin’s machinery and continuous pounding impact
local foundations, pools & soil stability.
We’re also concerned about a possible conflict of interest by the “consultant” working on the
EIR. She introduced herself as Michelle during the Zoom meeting and said she’d be preparing
the EIR for the City. Apparently, she is with MSA Consultants. But who was the man who
described the development? Is he also with MSA Consultants? Or is he with Meriweather? As
Anast Demitt stated, experts in the various areas that need to be studied for this project should be
the ones preparing the EIR...NOT a “consultant” who works for a company that is skilled at
getting projects approved by cities. MSA appears to have a preferred outcome. There is not
nearly enough “third party, independent” expertise at the table or being brought into this process!
There were LOTS of VERY important issues brought up yesterday...and ALL of them deserve
careful study, analysis and review BEFORE wasting more public money on any further
consideration of this project. As many said, the City is likely to face many lawsuits at every stage
of this project, so PLEASE take everything said today seriously...and push the timeline out in
order to make sure ALL of these issues are adequately and thoroughly considered by
independent analysts/experts. This project should NOT be approved as currently planned!!
Please add us to the list to receive ALL updates about this project.
Thank you,
Bridgett & Phil Novak
58235 Carmona
La Quinta, CA 92253
Bnovak26@comcast.net
novak@dominican.edu