Plans for a large, high-tech wave pool in La Quinta were recently rejected by its city council, but a handful of other water-centric attractions — including a trio that would feature artificial wave technology — are moving forward in the Coachella Valley.
The projects, which range from Palm Springs in the west to Thermal in the east, have gained approval from elected bodies to advance. But some say more needs to be done to reduce the parks’ water usage, particularly as California just saw its driest three-year period on record.
Last month, when the Coral Mountain Resort in La Quinta — including its 16.7-acre wave basin — was rejected by the city council, several residents cited the wave basin’s water usage as a reason for their opposition. Some on the council, though, said the zoning overhaul required by the project was a bigger concern for them.
The project’s critics — whose concerns also included noise and light pollution — were in “a state of shock” as they realized the proposal wasn’t advancing, said Alena Callimanis, a core member of La Quinta Residents for Responsible Development.
But while her group’s efforts were successful, it’s unclear whether the La Quinta wave pool’s failure will have any impact on the valley’s other planned water-centric developments.
“It's so much harder once a project has been approved to do anything, but if we can (let's) move the needle to have these cities relook at their water calculations to look at — what could they be doing more conservatively?” Callimanis said.
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The optics of building large wave pools with artificial wave-making technology in the desert amid a historic drought have drawn public opposition and national headlines. But the wave of projects is far from the first instance of water-intensive development in the hot and dry Coachella Valley.
Developers of the surf parks have pointed to another visible example of water use in the desert — green golf courses — and argue their surf parks would use far less water than them. But opponents counter that surf parks and swimming lagoons require potable drinking water quality, while golf courses can use recycled water.
Water officials have told The Desert Sun they must serve new projects that can afford the infrastructure if city councils, planning commissions, or the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approve them, and as long as an assessment finds the local water agency will have enough supply on hand for 20 years for each project.
The projects have also gained approval as low-income, largely Latino residents in mobile home parks at the eastern edge of the valley — in some cases not far from these planned recreational attractions — continue to live with contaminated wells or no running water.
The Desert Sun reached out to local officials and developers for an update on the four water projects in the works across the Coachella Valley.
For valley residents hoping to catch a wave soon, Palm Springs Surf Club appears to be on track to open first.
The city's planning commission unanimously approved plans to transform the former Wet ‘n’ Wild water park on Gene Autry Trail into a surf park in October 2019. Plans for the 21-acre property include a large wave pool with wave-making technology and a replacement for the existing lazy river feature, which will add a pool in its center.
More:Palm Springs Surf Club moves forward after planning commission approval
Construction is ongoing, the city planning department said, with testing of the pool and equipment set to begin later this year. Planning Director Chris Hadwin said the city isn’t aware of a target opening date but “understands it will be operational in 2023.”
Eric Munoz, chief development officer for the Palm Springs Surf Club, said the park is looking to open in “the second half of next year.” Munoz declined to provide information on potential pricing, but the park is expected to be open to the public and also available to rent privately.
The Palm Springs project has come under less scrutiny than similar ones proposed in the desert, likely because the site was already used as a water park. Palm Springs Surf Club has said it is likely to use less water than previous occupants, due to removing some of the water rides. Munoz also said the wave pool won’t be emptied out each winter like it was under prior occupants, because “surfing is year round — if the water is cold, put on a wetsuit.”
Callamanis sees fewer issues with Palm Springs Surf Club, noting it will be public and the site was already a water park.
Munoz said Palm Springs Surf Club isn’t concerned about any potential impact of La Quinta’s denial of the Coral Mountain project.
“We have city approval, we feel city support, we're just going to actualize what we're entitled to do. As far as other efforts, our focus is on site,” said Munoz.
Plans for a roughly 24-acre lagoon in Rancho Mirage have been in the works for several years. The lagoon is a key component of Section 31, a 618-acre site also set to include hundreds of homes, a hotel and a town center.
The specific plan and environmental report for the project — which has been described by local officials as the biggest in Rancho Mirage’s history — were approved by the city council in late 2019.
The development received renewed attention earlier this year, when Disney joined the project and rebranded it as “Cotino,” described as the first of a new line of sponsored communities from the entertainment giant.
Disney and city officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in April, with officials saying the first residents are expected to move in by early 2024.
While the overall plan — including about 516 homes — already has approval, future subdivisions and commercial building plans will require additional consideration from the planning commission and city council, according to city spokesperson Gabe Codding.
“The lagoon is already approved under the original entitlement and won’t require any further considerations or approvals by the city council,” Codding said.
Some residents in the valley have been skeptical of the need for a lagoon. Callimanis questioned the 2019 environmental report's findings at a council meeting in early September, arguing they greatly underestimate the lagoon’s evaporation rate. City Manager Isaiah Hagerman responded by defending the report as still accurate and relevant.
But Callimanis said she still hopes the council might reassess the lagoon component.
“We have beautiful desertscapes, we have beautiful mountains, but why do you need 24 acres (of water)?” Callimanis said. “You shouldn't be buying in the desert expecting to have a water view.”
More discussion of the developments surrounding the lagoon could come before the city council soon, though Codding said the topic isn’t on any October agendas.
A portion of the lagoon will feature a professionally managed beach park, which can be accessed by the public through the purchase of a day pass, as well as a “club-only” beach area, according to Cotino’s website. A Disney spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on pricing.
DSRT Surf, a planned resort with a 5.5-acre surf lagoon on vacant land at Desert Willow Golf Resort, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction is expected to begin early next year, according to a development company official.
The $200 million project is expected to open in the third quarter of 2024, Desert Wave Venture partner Blake Hess told The Desert Sun.
But before construction gets underway, plans for the project are scheduled to return to the Palm Desert City Council during its Oct. 27 meeting, city spokesperson Thomas Soule said.
He said the council will consider changes to the project’s disposition and development agreement that, if approved, will set a firm timeline.
"The proposed revisions ... include an increase in the number of hotel rooms from 92 to 137, and the addition of an additional floor to accommodate the new rooms," Soule said in an email. "There is also a request to change the phasing of the project and include an additional TOT rebate to support the project.
"None of the changes proposed affect the surf lagoon operations or size," he added.
The project’s return to the council comes after council members approved an amended agreement in January for the resort to include fewer hotel rooms than originally planned while adding villas that can be operated as vacation rentals.
Hess said a final decision has not yet been made on pricing, though another company official told the Wall Street Journal in 2019 said the resort will charge up to $135 an hour for use of the wave pool and as much as $450 a night for a hotel room.
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Thermal Beach Club, a resort with a 20-acre surf lagoon and more than 300 high-end homes in the eastern Coachella Valley, was approved two years ago by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, but it’s unclear when it will open.
Supervisors' unanimous approval in 2020 came as some criticized the project for prioritizing wealthy tourists over the local community in Thermal, just north of the Salton Sea, where some residents lack access to basic utilities and water lines.
The developer responded by offering to contribute to affordable housing and infrastructure needs in the unincorporated area — and those promises may soon be put in writing.
Last year, Assistant County Executive Officer Charissa Leach told The Desert Sun theproperty owner was pursuing an agreement with the county, “including the provision for affordable housing property."
The planning commission and board of supervisors will hold public hearings before any further votes, Leach said.
The project developer, Rancho Mirage-based Whitestar Development, had yet to submit any building applications with Riverside County planners for the resort as of December 2021. Last week, a county spokesperson said the status of the project is “unchanged."Brian Grantham, a Thermal Beach Club founder, did not respond to a request for comment.
Memberships for Thermal Beach Club will start at $175,000 and include amenities such as “special use” of the nearby Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, according to the club’s website.
Tom Coulter covers the cities of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells. Reach him at thomas.coulter@desertsun.com or on Twitter @tomcoulter_.
Erin Rode covers the environment for The Desert Sun. Reach her at erin.rode@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @RodeErin.