Palm Springs Surf Club Faces Noise Complaints After Up and Down First Year

The Palm Springs Surf club will be coming under the microscope during this week’s Palm Springs Planning Commission Meeting. The review comes after a turbulent first year marked by mechanical failures, noise violations, and dozens of neighbor complaints.

The staff report filed for the meeting opens by saying that the surf park had a "soft opening" on January 1, 2024, but closed within months due to mechanical problems with its eight wave-making machines. These air-pressure systems, housed in three enclosed buildings, required a "major overhaul" that lasted until late fall 2024, according to city documents.

The wave machines create artificial surf conditions using air pressure to force pistons downward, generating water motion. During early operations and overhaul work, staff frequently opened large roll-up doors for cooling, significantly increasing noise levels that carried to nearby neighborhoods. Noise is the running theme through this report. 

Growing Noise Complaints

Since opening, the city has received 66 noise complaints from approximately 16 residences, primarily in the Tahquitz Creek Golf neighborhood. Most complaints come from Cherry Hills Drive and Pebble Beach Drive, located about 915 feet from the park across the municipal golf course.

Code enforcement has cited the surf club six times, with four fines issued and paid. The violations stem from noise generated by wave machines, amplified music, and crowd noise during events.

The report sums this up with a graphic showing that “when the wave machines are making more frequent waves resulting in spikes for longer than permitted duration," the staff report states, documenting instances where noise exceeded city limits.

Strict Noise Standards

As an industrial-zoned business, the surf club must comply with specific noise limits:

• 70 decibels from 7 AM to 6 PM

• 60 decibels from 6 PM to 10 PM

• 55 decibels from 10 PM to 7 AM

The city allows temporary increases above these limits based on duration, but monitoring data shows the facility has violated these standards multiple times.

Operator Response and Improvements

To help combat this issue, operators at the site installed noise blankets inside pump buildings and additional cooling systems, allowing doors to remain closed during operation. The facility now operates with an on-site noise monitoring system and sound limiters for music systems, as required by city conditions.

Special events featuring DJs or live music end at 6 PM when noise limits drop.

What's at Stake

In regard to what could happen following the review of the park at Tuesday’s meeting, the Planning Commission can impose additional conditions, including:

• Direct city access to noise monitoring data

• Required architectural noise mitigation on wave machine buildings

• Mandatory neighborhood notification for special events

Staff recommends the commission approve the operational review while requiring continued noise monitoring and coordination with neighborhood representatives.

Community Impact

The review affects residents in surrounding neighborhoods who have reported nearly two years of noise issues, as well as the business's ability to continue operations and host events. The Planning Commission's decision will determine whether additional restrictions are needed to balance recreational amenities with residential quality of life.

The mandatory review was built into the original approval as condition PLN 6, requiring the commission to evaluate operations "within six months of the opening date of the water park." Given the delayed opening and operational challenges, this review represents a critical checkpoint for the facility's future in Palm Springs.

The staff recommendation on this new item only states “Receive staff report and take public testimony.” 

The Palm Springs Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, at Palm Springs City Hall on 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. If you intend to speak on an item via the Zoom webinar link or need additional assistance, please call the Department of Planning Services at 760-323-8245 or email planning@palmspringca.gov to receive instructions on remote participation.