Temecula planning commission continues Red Hawk event-center request after noise and notice concerns

The Temecula Planning Commission on Feb. 4 continued consideration of a proposal to allow weddings and other special events at the existing pavilion on the Red Hawk Golf Course, directing the applicant and staff to provide additional noise-mitigation analysis and a follow-up report before the item returns to the commission.

Staff described the applications (PA23-0327 and PA23-0251) as a specific-plan amendment and a conditional-use permit that would allow events at the pavilion between noon and 9 p.m., no more than three days per week, and with a reduced capacity of 130 people (down from the prior 144). The staff presentation said a Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared under CEQA and that mitigation measures include limiting amplified speakers to the southeast corner of the pavilion, a maximum of 84 dB at 50 feet, and a requirement that event staff maintain a 90-day noise log for inspection by code enforcement. Eric, the project planner, told commissioners the city had sent more than 1,000 mailed notices and had received five emails opposing the project and one supporting email.

Residents told the commission the mailed notices did not reach many homeowners and urged a more robust outreach and stricter mitigation. “I live over the first tee of Red Hawk. I’ve lived here for 21 years…What I’m not good with is the giant event center that’s going to provide a lot of noise to a lot of people who didn’t expect it,” said resident David Akiba, who described personal hearing loss he says occurred after loud wedding music. William Kelly, president of the homeowners association, said the pavilion is an open-air shelter in a valley where sound magnifies and asked the commission to “do due diligence.”

The applicant’s representative, Matthew Fagan, and Red Hawk events coordinator Robbie Snyder said they had already reduced proposed days, hours and capacity after two community meetings and had operated under a temporary-use permit since Nov. 14. Snyder said the three events held under the temporary permit produced no recorded complaints during those dates and that Red Hawk requires performers and DJs to do a sound check on non-event days and contractually permits staff to unplug any vendor that exceeds limits. “We’re already doing those things,” Snyder said, adding that their on-site decibel readings at fence-line points have been “between 45 and 55” during events, below the 65 dB contour noted in the staff noise exhibit.

Kimley‑Horn noise consultant Ryan Sheen explained the dB scale used for the mitigation: about 65 dB is comparable to normal conversation, while 80–85 dB is similar to a lawn mower; the mitigation measure limits amplified sound to 84 dB at 50 feet. Sheen said both temporary and permanent acoustic measures — including sound‑absorbing curtains or barriers and automatic limiters on speakers — can reduce perceived noise at nearby homes.

Commissioners debated options including requiring all amplified sound to be indoors, mandating temporary or permanent sound‑absorbing curtains around speakers, performing multiple dBA tests at several property lines (to capture high and low tones), or requiring ceiling/ceiling-mounted distributed speakers to reduce the need for high-volume point-source amplification. Several commissioners emphasized that a conditional-use permit runs with the land and can be difficult to revoke if problems arise, which weighed in the deliberation.

Because the commission wanted more detailed mitigation plans and time for staff to review consultant reports and a mitigation test plan, Commissioner Fernando made a motion to continue the item to the May 6, 2026 Planning Commission meeting; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Bob and carried unanimously. The public hearing was left open for the continued date.

Next steps: the applicant and noise consultant will work with staff to provide a mitigation plan and additional testing/measurements; staff directed that material be submitted with sufficient lead time for review ahead of the May 6 meeting.