Palm Springs Surf Club faces review amid noise complaints, operational setbacks

The Palm Springs Surf Club will undergo a city commission review July 22 as the facility grapples with ongoing noise complaints from neighbors and a history of mechanical problems that forced extended closures.

The Palm Springs Planning Commission will hear testimony from the property owner, operator and public at during a regular meeting at City Hall to determine whether the surf park at 1500 South Gene Autry Trail has satisfied conditions from its original 2019 approval. City staff has recommend the commission consider additional oversight measures, including providing Code Enforcement direct access to the facility’s noise monitoring system.

Since late 2023, the surf club has generated 66 noise complaints from approximately 16 individual residences in a nearby neighborhood, according to a city staff report. Code enforcement officers have cited the business six times, with four citations resulting in fines that have been paid in full.

Most complaints have come from residents along Cherry Hills Drive and Pebble Beach Drive in the Tahquitz Creek neighborhood, located about 900 feet from the facility. The complaints primarily concern noise from the its eight wave-making machines and music from special events.

The surf club operated for several months after its opening before closing due to mechanical issues with its wave-pumping machines. The facility required a major equipment overhaul that lasted until late fall 2024, according to the owners.

The wave-making system uses air pressure to force pistons downward, creating water motion for surfable waves. During the early testing phase, the machines experienced continued overheating, prompting staff to open large roll-up doors for circulation and cooling, which increased noise levels.

During the overhaul process, the surf club installed noise blankets inside the buildings housing the machines and added cooling machinery. These measures have allowed the roll-up doors to remain closed during operation, according to the staff report.

Palm Springs operates under noise limits of 70 decibels during daytime hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in industrial zones. Code Enforcement data shows instances when the wave machines created noise spikes that exceeded permitted duration limits.

As of this month, the facility is fully operational and conducting daily business. The Planning Commission may impose additional conditions, including requiring notification to neighborhood representatives about special events and additional noise-limiting measures for the wave machine buildings.

The surf park site has operated as a water park since 1985, with the current facility adding a new surf wave pool, restaurant and lounge, plus 7,746 square feet of new structures. The Planning Commission originally approved the project with a condition requiring operational review within six months of opening.

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