COACHELLA VALLEY INDEPENDENT // 11
AUGUST 2021
OPINION NEWS
CVINDEPENDENT.COM/NEWS
SURF’S UP?
La Quinta residents battle a proposed development— with a Kelly Slater Wave Pool as its centerpiece
A
Take The Dive into a new desert home!
by cat makino
proposed 386-acre development in La Quinta is facing determined opposition from nearby residents—who have thus far raised about $66,000 to fight the project. The Coral Mountain Resort would include 600 homes, with prices starting at $2.5 million; a 150-room hotel; hiking and biking trails; spa and wellness facilities; adventure-sports facilities; and a restaurant and market. It’s being proposed by Meriwether Companies, a real estate development and investment firm based in Colorado. It’s the development’s planned centerpiece that has neighbors most upset: a half-mile long wave pool, created by the Kelly Slater Wave Company, containing 18 million gallons of water, with artificial waves provided for surfers. It would be beautiful trails,” Baez said. one of the largest such facilities in the world. Bruce Bauer, an attorney with Slovak Baron Despite the opposition, a draft Empey Murphy and Pinkney LLP, was hired by environmental impact report prepared by the LQRRD. He said that while the proposed Coral city of La Quinta says the project would use Mountain Resort makes economic sense for an allowable amount of water, and would have Meriwether, it doesn’t make economic sense minimal impacts on neighboring residents. for nearby residents. Garrett Simon, a partner with Meriwether “We believe the resort will create an ongoing Companies, explained why the company chose festival (amusement park) atmosphere,” Bauer the location and purchased the land, which is said. “Many of these residents in the adjoining largely vacant, in 2019. communities invested their life savings in their “We have been active in the area for 10-plus residences, and they invested in La Quinta. No years, and it is close to Los Angeles, San one understood that this sort of development Diego,” Simon said. “From the weather to its would be next to them.” beautiful scenery, La Quinta is already on the Despite the neighbors’ concerns, the city’s map as one of the best destinations. There’s draft environmental impact report—prepared golf and tennis—just a fantastic destination.” with the assistance of MSA Consulting, Inc.— Simon said the Coral Mountain Resort concludes that projected water usage, as well would be “revenue positive” for the city due to as traffic, noise and lighting, will all be within the taxes it would bring in. “The project has an the scope of local regulations. Though these annual revenue surplus of an estimated $1.6 factors will be reviewed at five-year intervals, million (phase 1) to $2.2 million (buildout),” he it’s unclear what would happen if the resort said via email. fails to meet these standards. If the project is approved, Meriwether plans The draft environmental impact report to start construction in the second quarter of is viewable at www.laquintaca.gov. The city 2022. is accepting public comments through Aug. A number of nearby residents hope to stop 6. Comments may be submitted with “Coral that construction, and have formed a group Mountain Resort DEIR” in the subject line at called La Quinta Residents for Responsible consultingplanner@laquintaca.gov. After public Development (LQRRD) to fight the project. hearings, the city Planning Commission will The property is currently zoned for lowmake its recommendation to the La Quinta density residential use, as well as a golf City Council, which is slated to make the final course and some commercial use. LQRRD decision sometime in the fall, according to representatives say the proposed change to Cheri Flores, La Quinta’s planning manager. allow “tourist commercial” zoning violates the 2035 general plan for La Quinta. Ramon Baez, a LQRRD representative, said residents of surrounding neighborhood communities—including Andalusia, Trilogy and The Quarry—fear the proposed development will harm their quality of life. LQRRD claims the zoning change would allow an “amusement-like theme park that operates from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., 365 days of the year.” “Imagine you live at La Quinta Cove, where they don’t have any night streetlights—then An artist’s rendering of the proposed wave park at they build a surf wave park on one of your the Coral Mountain Resort. Courtesy of Meriwether Companies
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