Monday, October 8, 2007

La Quinta Resort Pool Backed By Judge Desert Sun Article




Judge backs La Quinta on 'signature pool'
Opponents of resort's ambition plan own appeal

Marcel Honor頦#149; The Desert Sun • October 6, 2007

The La Quinta Resort & Club scored a major victory Friday in its controversial bid to build a 4.7-acre family water attraction.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Randall White upheld La Quinta City Council's approval of the resort's proposed "signature pool."
"There is substantial evidence which supports the city's findings of no new or more severe impacts," the judge's ruling stated.
"Needless to say, the La Quinta Resort is very pleased with the outcome," resort attorney Richard Zeilenga wrote in an e-mail.
Richard Fredericks of "Save Our La Quinta Neighborhood," which filed the suit, said the group would appeal White's decision.
"I think he's wrong. We believe very strongly that it's a new project and that the appellate court will reverse him and require an environmental impact report," Fredericks said.
Lawyers argued in court Wednesday whether the family water attraction required a new environmental impact report.
The project would remove 10 of the resort's 23 tennis courts - including the stadium court - to construct a wave pool, lazy river, faux mountain water slides, and other aquatic amenities aimed at drawing more summer occupancy.
"Neighborhood's" nearby residents and club members contend the feature would create noise, traffic and safety issues, and that the signature pool would tarnish the 80-year-old resort's historic charm.
The City Council voted 3-2 last March in favor of the project, using an addendum to a 1975 environmental impact report. Mayor Don Adolph and Councilman Stanley Sniff dissented

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