2021-03-13 Toohey
March 12, 2021
Nicole Sauviat Criste, Consulting Planner
City of La Qunita
78-495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 92253
Dear Ms. Sauviat Criste:
Comments on the Notice of Preparation for the Coral Mountain Resort
The issues of primary concern to us as residents of Andalusia and neighbors of the new Coral
Mountain Resort are highlighted below:
A. Light Pollution. The Notice of Preparation indicates that the project proposes a 16.62 acre
recreational Wave basin, including 80-foot light poles, to illuminate the Wave basin in the
evenings. Currently, the evening sky facing the Coral Mountains is dark, allowing for
undisrupted observation of the stars and planets. The lights necessary to luminate a 16.62
acre wave basin in the evening would definitely make an impact on the night sky, the
wildlife in the area and the view from our homes.
The Notice of Preparation also indicates that the project will be required to comply with
the lighting and landscape requirements in the City of La Quinta Municipal Code. However,
the Code does not appear to allow for lighting at a height of 80, especially across from a
residential area. Is a variance being issued to allow this lighting?
B. Noise Pollution. It is unclear if the Wave Basin will generate noise that will carry to our
neighborhood. It appears that there will be a PA system that will announce the wave
approximately every 6 minutes. Will this announcement be audible to our community
every 6 minutes every day? There is also concern over the actual wave noise. Every six
minutes a wave will run the length of the wave basin. What is the noise generated and
how far will that noise carry?
C. Traffic. Although the Notice of Preparation indicates that this site, which was originally
approved for a golf course and single resident homes, will not bring in more traffic than the
original proposed use, it will bring in a different type of use. As a hotel destination, traffic
patterns will change as it attracts users for the hotel, surfing, restaurants, shopping, spa,
entertainment, etc. There will no longer be light traffic conditions driving from our homes
to our grocery store, cleaners, and other neighborhood stops. As residents of La Quinta, we
already experience the impact of traffic from events such as tennis and concerts. We
certainly do not want that in our backyard.
Currently, we live in a quiet residential area. We purchased our home in this part of the
Coachella Valley because of the natural beauty and peacefulness of the area. We encourage
the City to look closely at these potential issues in the EIR. Thank you for the opportunity to
review the Notice.
Sincerely,
Theresa Toohey
81469 Andalusia Drive
La Quinta, CA
916-768-5638