2018-10-03 - Flores, Carlos - Email Response to Carolyn Witthoft1
From:Carlos Flores
Sent:Wednesday, October 3, 2018 7:40 AM
To:'Carolyn Witthoft'
Subject:RE: Morrow Ranch Proposal
Good morning,
First, thank you for reaching out regarding your comments and concerns about this
permit. Feedback from surrounding residents is an important part of our review process
when analyzing potential noise, traffic, and safety impacts. Through our review process
of the permit, City staff makes sure to analyze potential impacts relating to noise,
traffic, safety, and disturbances to adjoining neighbors. The permit is still currently
under review by staff and the applicant has items that need to be addressed before we
can continue. We are also keeping track of all correspondence we receive from
surrounding residents to keep on file through our review process to make sure all
concerns are appropriately addressed and to keep in mind as we move forward. This
could include changes in event scope, conditions relating to traffic flow, parking plans,
noise monitors, orientation of music, etc. I have received a lot of e-mails/phone calls
from surrounding residents with concerns about the event permit, and these concerns
will need to be addressed by the applicant before moving forward. I have also been in
communication with members of the PGA West Fairways Association board, to make
sure members of the association are appropriately listened to.
Feel free to direct and send all correspondence regarding questions, comments, and
concerns about this event permit to me. I am also always available for a phone call if
that is easier for anyone. Regards,
Carlos Flores | Associate Planner
City of La Quinta
78495 Calle Tampico ◦ La Quinta, CA 92253
Ph. 760.777.7069
cflores@laquintaca.gov
From: Carolyn Witthoft <carolyn.witthoft@librettogroup.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2018 3:42 PM
To: Carlos Flores <cflores@laquintaca.gov>
Cc: Linda Evans <Levans@laquintaca.gov>; Kathleen Fitzpatrick <kfitzpatrick@laquintaca.gov>; John Pena
<jpena@laquintaca.gov>; Robert Radi <Rradi@laquintaca.gov>; Steve Sanchez <ssanchez@laquintaca.gov>; Charles L.
Witthoft <charles.witthoft@librettogroup.com>
Subject: Morrow Ranch Proposal
Dear Mr. Flores:
2
We are homeowners in the PGA West Monterra community. We understand that the new owner of Morrow Ranch has
submitted an application to use his property as an event site (weddings, reunions, etc. including installing porta‐potties,
a large parking lot, lights, and a dance floor).
We have reviewed the owner's temporary use permit application, the plot plan of the property, and the proposed event
diagram, attached here. It is worth noting that the proposed event plan shows the use of Morrow Ranch property
directly abutting 16 back yards of Monterra homeowners, including the placement of portable toilets.
It appears that the property owner is attempting to turn a residential property into a commercial property. There is no
comparison between someone renting out their home to short‐stay renters and someone leasing out a large private
piece of property for events that normally take place in a hotel, park, restaurant or other commercial building/property.
As homeowners, we want you to know that we are extremely opposed to the additional traffic, lights, and noise that this
commercial enterprise would impose on our quiet, residential neighborhood in Monterra.
When we bought our home last year, we understood that there were existing farms across Monroe St. ‐ and that these
could change hands at any time and become something else.
We absolutely did not anticipate that our property ‐ abutted by other residential properties ‐ could be held hostage to a
large, loud, bright, busy commercial enterprise. Regardless of whether the owner intends to respect the local noise
ordinance, this operation would be out of character for anything on this side of Monroe abutting PGA West. In addition
to our general concern about the proposed business' impact on our property values, we are extremely concerned about
the potential noise impact.
Would the city allow us to rent out our home for multiple family reunions and weddings, install porta‐potties and
elevated lights, and invite a disc jockey to play loud music in our driveway or back yard? No ‐ because this is a
residential property in a residential neighborhood.
We sincerely hope that the City will immediately and decisively reject this party's application and inform the property
owner that he cannot operate a loud commercial enterprise on his residential property ‐ and in our back yard.
Thank you,
Carolyn and Charles Witthoft
81‐925 Four Seasons Place
La Quinta
203‐807‐2663
‐‐
Carolyn A. Witthoft
Libretto Group LLC
+1‐203‐807‐2663