2021-03-21 WelchMonday, March 22, 2021 at 06:40:17 Pacific Daylight Time
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Subject:Proposed Waterpark
Date:Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 3:06:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:Jim Welch
To:consulDngplanner@laquintaca.gov
ADachments:image001.jpg
HI Nicole,
We are Jim & Mary Welch 81450 Carboneras La Quinta CA 92253 303-886-7578. We purchased
a home in Andalusia about 2 years ago because we preferred the quiet pace of this neighborhood to
Palm Springs. We like stop signs rather than stop lights. We like being able to ride our bikes on the
street without having to fear for our life due to heavy traffic. We enjoy the beautiful dark sky at night
and we really enjoy the peace and quiet !
If you want to keep receiving the high property taxes we are paying, please do not allow our
neighborhood to be ruined. We will not continue to pay these taxes if this is approved.
WE WILL LEAVE !
We agree with our neighbors concerns below and do not want our neighborhood to turn into a “shit
show”.
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
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should be investigated more vigorously than stated in section 4.2.12.
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.
Thanks,
Jim Welch
1205 W Center Ave.
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 777-3100 office
(303) 886-7578 cell