2021-09-20 McDaniel Coral Mountain Wave Project_RedactedCoral Mountain Wave Project
Tom McDaniel
Mon 9/20/2021 1:07 PM
To:Linda Evans <Levans@laquintaca.gov>;Robert Radi <Rradi@laquintaca.gov>;Kathleen Fitzpatrick
<kfitzpatrick@laquintaca.gov>;John Pena <jpena@laquintaca.gov>;Steve Sanchez <ssanchez@laquintaca.gov>;Jon
McMillen <jmcmillen@laquintaca.gov>;Consulting Planner <ConsultingPlanner@laquintaca.gov>;Danny Castro
<dcastro@laquintaca.gov>
Cc:Nichols Danny ;McDaniel Thomas Gage
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To Members of the La Quinta City Council and Planning Commission:
My name is Tom McDaniel. I have a home at PGA West which we have owned for the past 21
years, Riviera. We have been full golf and tennis members at PGA West for the past 21
years and I have also been a member of The Quarry for the past 10 years. The family loves our
desert retreat; and, with our family now expanded to children and grandchildren, we are excited
about the prospect of broadening their recreational options in the desert via the Coral Mountain
Project.
Our main home is in Huntington Beach where my wife and I, our two married children and four
grandchildren also live. Our family members are all active golfers, Virginian Country Club and
The Huntington Club, and active surfers. Our son in law Danny Nichols is a former professional
surfer and currently coaches past US Open champion Courtney Conlogue as well as other up
and coming young surfers. He is a key contributor to the California Board Riders Association
and founder of Operation Open Water whose mission is to address the physical and mental
health challenges of our first responders through surfing and other ocean/water based
programs. Danny has been to the Kelly Slater wave pool in the Central Valley of California many
times and is very familiar with its operation. The US Open Surfing Championship starts today
and we have a number of the surfers competing in the event staying with us. We have a deep
knowledge of the surf community and industry. We can attest that the surfing culture and
industry has far outgrown early images that were far from flattering.
My reason for providing you with all of this background information, is to inform you that the
family has a long and deep connection with La Quinta as a homeowner and member of two
outstanding golf and tennis clubs. We also have a deep and longstanding involvement with
surfing and other active outdoor pursuits. I draw from both experiences as well as my
engineering and project development background to wholeheartedly endorse the Coral
Mountain Project.
I have met with the Coral Mountain Project developers on several occasions to get a full review
of the project scope as well as the environmental impact study and noise management
elements of the project. I am satisfied that their diligence is comprehensive and professionally
done. I truly believe that the private upscale nature of the Coral Mountain project will be a
welcome addition to the community and diversify the type of recreation and lifestyle options
beyond a strictly golf oriented environment. I know my family is excited about the multi
generational recreational options that Coral Mountain will bring to La Quinta.
For the past two years, I have taken the family skiing to Big Sky Montana. Both times we have
stayed at Moonlight Basin which is a project developed by Meriwether Companies. I can attest
to the quality of the projects they develop through our own experience at Moonlight Basin.
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In summary, we support the Coral Mountain project because it expands the lifestyle
choice within the City, the environmental impact and mitigation plans are comprehensive
and the economic benefit to La Quinta is positive and sustainable.
Respectfully,
Tom McDaniel
Sent from my iPad
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