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Neighbor tells Planning Commission gym at 140 17th Street wakes residents as early as 5:15 a.m.; commissioners urge meeting with owner
Summary
A Costa Mesa resident urged the Planning Commission to address early‑morning bass noise from a gym at 140 17th Street, saying it causes health and sleep problems; commissioners pointed to gaps in a 1992 CUP and encouraged staff and council engagement to seek simple fixes such as closing a back door.
Wendy Simone told the Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Jan. 26 she and other neighbors are again being awakened before dawn by heavy bass and repeated "boom" noises from a gym at 140 17th Street and asked the city to take action. "5:15 in the morning is what time I got woke up this morning," Simone said during the public‑comment portion, describing sleep disruption, anxiety and health impacts she attributes to the noise.
Vice Chair David Zick said the property's conditional use permit (CUP) dates to 1992 and includes no noise provisions, and he urged staff to pursue simple remedies. "Just closing the back door of this business solves a problem," Zick said, asking city management or department directors to meet with the property owner and offering to join such talks.
Chair Harling said the problem sounded solvable and encouraged Simone to update the commission or take the concern to City Council and staff for more direct follow‑up. No formal enforcement action or legislative change was proposed at the meeting; commissioners instructed staff to assist residents and encouraged additional outreach to the property owner.
The meeting highlighted a recurring set of complaints that city rules and older CUP language may not address modern noise issues such as low‑frequency bass and amplified sound. Commissioners said the city's noise ordinance measures decibel levels but does not reference frequencies or bass impacts, and they discussed whether CUP conditions or direct conversations with the owner could achieve immediate relief.
The commission did not set a date for follow‑up but suggested the resident pursue the issue with city staff and the City Council for possible enforcement or code amendments.
