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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4A - RE_ Addressing Pickleball Noise & Health Impacts - Commission Meeting 6_10_25From:Nalini Lasiewicz ORG To:Ken Lyon; Anita Fields Cc:Nalini Lasiewicz Subject:RE: Addressing Pickleball Noise & Health Impacts - Commission Meeting 6/10/25 Date:Monday, June 9, 2025 12:07:03 PM Attachments:image002.png image001.png image004.png LF PB Noise Policy Brief_Final.pdf PB Health Concerns-public facing.pdf LF tally hotspots by state-city05-01-25.pdf NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Hi Ken and Anita: Thank you for your time today. I do appreciate your help in distributing this email to your commission members and the Applicant. I am writing on behalf of the Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to fostering healthy communities. Our research, alongside a growing number of first-hand accounts from across North America, indicates that the impulsive noise from improperly sited outdoor pickleball courts constitutes a serious nuisance. Careful planning is a must. The high-pitched, repetitive sound from pickleball can negatively affect mental and physical health. A first-in-the-nation medical study on this topic was just presented at the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in New Orleans in May. The physician-led research raises serious concerns about the impact of pickleball noise on humans. We reference the study in the attached Policy Brief, which I hope you will have time to review prior to the meeting tomorrow. We believe the current application for a commercial pickleball facility on southwest corner of Avenida Evelita and Airport Center Drive should not be exempt from CQEA review. We recommend that a professional acoustician perform a noise impact study to safeguard the potential harm to residents located within 1000 feet of this site, and to recommend any potential mitigation options before any permit is issue. It is our belief that the noise from the airport and traffic on Ramon will not mask the impulsive pops of over a dozen pickleball courts. One of the public benefits of CEQA is that it requires notice to neighbors who may be impacted by a proposed development. If your commission approves the exemption request this week, neighbors will have no recourse other than filing a lawsuit within 30 days! It is highly unlikely that the most vulnerable properties even know about the development, let alone have the time and resources to file a lawsuit within the mandated time limit. An exemption will give them virtually no voice in this project. CEQA also requires a review of potential impacts to traffic and parking, which will likely be another environmental factor as the business will attract residents from around the Valley for extended periods of time. Like many cities across the country, your noise code has not been updated to include the use permit requirements or pickleball-specific restrictions that are recommended in the Model Noise Ordinance for Pickleball we published last year. While Palm Springs has a code in place to protect against the vibration perception threshold of gas powered leaf blowers – but not exists for the vibration caused by thousands of strikes of a hard plastic ball against a hard pickleball paddle. We urge you to consider solutions that prioritize community health and quality of life. This includes: Exploring alternative locations with significant setback requirements, as adopted by other municipalities. Considering the use of quiet equipment (e.g., foam balls, quiet paddles) if court use is managed on-site. Initiating a comprehensive noise impact study as a critical first step before establishing or continuing court operations in residential areas. The attached Policy Brief for Decision Makers, along with a list of reported pickleball noise hotspots, and resident testimony, provide further context and evidence. We can also provide the full medical research paper upon request. We are committed to finding balanced solutions that allow for recreational activities while protecting residents. I would be pleased to discuss our findings and recommendations with you at your convenience and hope to speak during the meeting tomorrow. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Nalini Lasiewicz Executive Director Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation La Cañada Flintridge, CA Tel: (818) 621-5867 Email: nalini@lasiewicz.org Attachments: 1. A Policy Brief for Decision Makers 2. List of reported pickleball noise hotspots, by state/city 3. Testimony of residents living near outdoor pickleball courts From: Ken Lyon <Ken.Lyon@palmspringsca.gov> Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 7:56 AM To: Nalini Lasiewicz ORG <nalini@lasiewicz.org> Subject: FW: Speaking at Planning Commission 6/10/25 online Good Morning Nalini, If you would also like to submit a written public comment today via e mail, we can forward that to the applicant and the Planning Commission also. Ken Lyon, RA Principal City Planner Department of Planning Services City of Palm Springs, California 3200 Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92263 T 760 322 8364 x 8786 or 760 323 8245 F 760 322 8360 Public Counter Hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm City Hall is closed on Fridays “Make no little plans, They have no magic to stir men’s blood And probably won’t be realized. Make big plans Aim high in work and in hope, Let your watchword be order, And your beacon beauty” Daniel Burnham, Architect and Planner The City of Palm Springs receives planning, permit and business license applications online! Click here to watch an introductory video. From: Anita Fields <Anita.Fields@palmspringsca.gov> Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 7:49 AM To: Ken Lyon <Ken.Lyon@palmspringsca.gov>; Christopher Hadwin <Christopher.Hadwin@palmspringsca.gov> Cc: Anthony Riederer <Anthony.Riederer@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: FW: Speaking at Planning Commission 6/10/25 online FYI – I sent the login info. A quick Google search indicates that they may want to speak about noise issues associated with pickleball courts. Anita Fields Administrative Specialist Planning Department (760) 322-8321 From: Nalini Lasiewicz ORG <nalini@lasiewicz.org> Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 1:45 PM To: Planning <Planning@palmspringsca.gov> Subject: Speaking at Planning Commission 6/10/25 online NOTICE: This message originated outside of The City of Palm Springs -- DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. Greetings: I would like to address the PS Planning Commission at it’s next meeting. Can you please send me log- in instructions? I will be dialing in from Los Angeles. Many thanks, Nalini Nalini Lasiewicz, Exec Dir Lasiewicz Foundation La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Office: (818) 249-9691 PST Cell: (818) 621-5867 Nalini Lasiewicz, Exec Dir Lasiewicz Foundation La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011 Office: (818) 249-9691 PST Cell: (818) 621-5867 Pickleball Noise: Health Effects on Nearby Neighbors A Policy Brief for Decision Makers The popular sport of pickleball promotes fitness and well-being, and yet, its disruptive "pop-pop-pop" noise profoundly impacts nearby residents. Decades of research have shown that noise has both auditory and non- auditory health consequences. A recent physician-led study links pickleball noise to illness in neighbors, showing that pickleball noise is making some people sick — those who live near the courts.1 Given these documented harms, policymakers have a moral and ethical obligation to enact and uphold policies that prioritize those impacted by noise pollution, and protect against the potential of costly litigation. Recent Research on Health Concerns In 2024-25, data were collected from public sources with a focus on excessive pickleball noise including social media posts, news reports, and legal filings. A content analysis methodology was used to identify possible health- related concerns mentioned by residents living near courts. The study found that neighbors reported both physical and mental health concerns. (See Figure 1). Most commonly mentioned were trauma and PTSD-like symptoms, closely followed by auditory hallucinations (hearing “phantom pickleball noises”). Severe stress, insomnia, torture, and anxiety were the next most common descriptors. Other symptoms such as high blood pressure, heart racing, a “sense of going crazy” and headaches were noted as well. Some comments showed severe distress, like one person who said, "no one would choose to live this way. It is physically and emotionally debilitating." There were even two reports of suicidal thoughts. Figure 1. Self-reported health effects from pickleball noise. Presented at the Acoustical Society of America, 2025 1 “Pickleball noise: The physical and psychological effects on nearby neighbors” will be published in June 2025. A link and copy will be emailed upon request. For a lay language summary of the report (4 pages) click here. The research authors, physicians with years of experience caring for patients, note that the severity of the reported symptoms from pickleball noise are concerning, even at low loudness levels. A psychologist specializing in trauma who reviewed the information was concerned about the reports of PTSD-like symptoms. One retired Army colonel even compared it to "psychological operations used during wartime." Why Pickleball Courts Produce So Many Noise Complaints Noise pollution is considered a serious public health issue with significant impacts, including stress-related illnesses and reduced productivity. Research has shown that noise exposure can also have a negative impact on children’s learning. Psychoacoustics is the study of how humans perceive sound, combining the physics of sound with the psychological interpretation of it. There are many factors for how we perceive sounds and what makes noise annoying, not limited to “loudness” or pitch. One has only to think about a dripping faucet. It’s not loud, but over time it can trigger agitation or worse. • It's the "Pop": The sharp, sudden “thwack” of a pickleball paddle is challenging to measure outside of a lab. For impulsive noises, decibel readings require adjustments to better correlate, or anticipate, community response. Annoyance is multidimensional. Metrics limited to decibels do not correlate well with the subjective perception of the main characteristics of the sound in real time. People simply aren't used to hearing this kind of constant popping, reflecting off surfaces, penetrating walls and windows for hours, days and weeks on end. • Alarming and Debilitating: The audio spectrum of a pickleball "pop" falls within the typical range for truck backup alarms (about 1200 Hz). When subjected to it, this sound can trigger a “fight or flight” stress response. For residents who have no control over when the popping will start, stop, or even how long it will last, the sounds are distressing. Long-term exposure to noise can lead to debilitating symptoms of learned helplessness, such as depression, phobias, etc. • It Feels Trapping: People living near courts often say they feel trapped, unable to open windows or escape the excessive noise in their own homes. If they speak up, they can face harassment or threats. These personal experiences can make the unwanted noise feel even worse, and can lead to frustration and anger. • It Never Stops: Pickleball is most often played in doubles, so extended volleys are common and there are many more strikes, per hour, than tennis. In fact, communities often convert a single tennis court into four pickleball courts. One pickleball court can produce ~900 pops an hour. Since play can go from 10-14 hours a day, it’s not unusual for four courts to generate over 21,000 pops in a single day! (See Figure 2). That's a huge amount of noise to put up with. In residential areas, there is often less background noise from traffic and other activities in the evening, at the weekend and on holidays, making the pickleball noise even more disruptive. We find that most current public policies are not prioritizing the impacted residents, even though unwanted or harmful noise is a risk to health and property values. Figure 2. Hourly distribution of 21,208 total pops at one site with 4 courts. Reproduced with permission from Noise Net Operations US, Inc. https://pickleballnoiseac.com/ Most local noise codes and sound studies focus on how loud the sounds are (decibels). They don't consider all the factors in how people react to noise, such as the type of sound (impulsive), the loudness of each strike (dose), and the number of "pops" per day (dosage). As pickleball noise expert Robert (Bob) Unetich told NPR in 2023, "You can't take pop, pop, pop for 12 hours a day, every day, and remain sane.” Open this link to hear the sounds generated by 4 pickleball courts. Recommendations • Assess Current Pickleball Noise Hot Spots: Any outdoor pickleball court less than 1,000 feet from a residential area should have had a noise and environmental impact review prior to allowing play. If that step was skipped, or if mitigation recommendations were not implemented, policymakers should understand that the site chosen may have been a mistake. Survey the nearby residents. Pickleball noise is a growing public health issue across the country and decision-makers have an obligation to protect the safety of impacted residents. o Acoustic engineers and consultants who have studied pickleball courts located less than 100 feet from homes have indicated that the noise cannot be mitigated short of “full enclosure,” which means putting the courts inside a structure. o For courts located 100-400 feet from homes, mitigation is still challenging and may require a combination of strategies including barriers, limited hours, and quiet equipment — as any alone may not offer full protection. In fact, barrier walls can actually make the problem worse without proper design and can be sold by motivated salespeople instead of being designed by a professional. Barriers will not protect multi-story homes or apartments. The installation must have no gaps or tears. Even a small opening will allow the impulsive pops to travel. o If foam balls and quiet paddles are mandated, enforcement strategies or staff must be in place to ensure the rules are followed. It is unfair to expect the residents to police the public use of the courts. • New Courts: Be careful about where new courts are built, especially as we wait for more research on how to protect the health of nearby residents. Neighbors should be notified and included in the planning process. • Noise Impact Studies: Most current regulations do not cover this new type of noise. Before your project moves forward, contract for a noise impact study. Professional acoustic analysis follows industry standards, provides accurate measurements using calibrated devices, and clearly cites the distances and elevations of surrounding structures. A quality report will describe the perception and types of sound, note any environmental factors such as weather, wind or water, and report the number of noise events that can be expected. Crucially, for proposed construction or existing courts, audio recordings that simulate the expected sound levels should be included. A recording can help policy makers more fully understand, or anticipate, the potential impacts. Conclusion Personal testimonies and news reports collected since 2021, as well as the release of a first-in-the-nation health impact study, has raised serious concerns over long-term exposure to pickleball noise. In the past, the risks of secondhand smoke led to bans on indoor smoking. Similarly, pickleball courts must be placed carefully to protect nearby residents from annoying and harmful impulse noise. It's possible that, like secondhand smoke, there's no safe level of unwanted pickleball noise. More research is needed but for now, new courts should be built as far from homes as possible to safeguard residents and avoid expensive legal battles. Lastly, public parks and HOA’s should not be exempted from any environmental impact review. Pickleball noise is relatively new and requires updated codes, industry standards and safeguards for all stakeholders. For more information, we recommend Pickleball Noise Relief: ▪ Central hub, website ▪ Facebook group ▪ Video resource library on YouTube ▪ Pickleball Noise Hot Spots on Google Maps The Robert and Nalini Lasiewicz Foundation is a CA public benefit non-profit organization. Our noise control program connects researchers, policymakers, engineers and sound experts, sports clubs, players, vendors, local governments and community members to address the growing problem of noise in shared community spaces. For more information: Tel: 818-249-9691 | E-mail: nalini@lasiewicz.org | Website: https://lasiewicz.org 06-09-25 The Lasiewicz Foundation, a California non-profit, has launched a noise control project after researching resident complaints about the noise produced by the game of outdoor pickleball. We provide information to complainants, regulators, HOAs and community Boards for more effective planning standards and zoning restrictions. U.S. PICKLEBALL NOISE HOT SPOTS, by City/State As of 05-01-25 ALABAMA Mobile ALASKA Anchorage ARIZONA Flagstaff Green Valley Mesa Phoenix Scottsdale Sun City Tucson ARKANSAS Garfield CALIFORNIA Alameda Altadena Berkeley Brentwood Cameron Park Carlsbad Carmel Cathedral City Corona Corte Madera Cupertino Cypress Danville Davis Encinitas Encino Glendale Goleta Hermosa Beach Huntington Beach Indio Irvine La Cañada Flintridge La Jolla Laguna Beach Lincoln Hills Livermore Long Beach Los Alamitos Los Altos Menlo Park Milpitas Montecito Newport Beach North Tustin Oak Park Oceanside Ojai Pacific Grove, Monterey Palm Desert Palo Alto Pasadena Penn Valley Piedmont Rancho Santa Fe Rossmoor - Seal Beach Sacramento San Clemente San Diego San Francisco San Gabriel San Jose San Luis Opispo San Marcos San Mateo Santa Clarita Saratoga Seal Beach Seaside Temecula Thousand Oaks Town of Ross Venice Beach Walnut Creek COLORADO Boulder Castle Rock City of Centennial Denver Durango Fort Collins Glendale Lakewood Littleton Lone Tree Parker CONNECTICUT East Lyme Fairfield Gales Ferry Granby New Canaan Stamford West Hartford Westport Wilton DELAWARE Lewes FLORIDA Apollo Beach Aventura Boca Raton Bonita Springs Brandenton Coconut Creek Cutler Bay Dunedin Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Fort Pierce Hutchinson Island- Fort Pierce Indialantic Jacksonville Lake City Lakeland Longboat Key Lutz Melbourne Beachside Naples Neptune Beach New Port Richey Ocoee Orlando Oviedo Parkland Pinecrest Punta Gorda Sarasota St. Petersburg Venice Vero Beach Winter Garden Winter Park GEORGIA Alpharetta Avondale Estates Cartersville Johns Creek Milton Newnan Peachtree City Suwanee Tucker Woodstock HAWAII Kaneohe Honolulu Kamuela Kaneohe Kihei, Maui Maui IDAHO Boise ILLINOIS Galina Glenview Highland Park Lake Bluff Libertyville Lisle Naperville Willowbrook INDIANA Bargersville Warsaw IOWA Cedar Falls Osage KANSAS Mission Woods Overland Park Leawood City Prairie Village Wichita KENTUCKY Louisville Madisonville Murray Nancy Owensboro LOUISIANA Madisonville MAINE Eastport Kittery York MARYLAND Chevy Chase Montgomery County Pikesville Towson MASSACHUSETTS Barnstable Beverly Boston Braintree Brewster East Falmouth Edgartown Essex Falmouth Franklin Greenfield Hingham Lexington Manchester-by-the-Sea Marstons Mills Mashpee Melrose Needham Newton North Andover North Borough North Easton North Falmouth Osterville Plymouth Provincetown Sagamore Beach Salem Sudbury Tewksbury Wellesley West Falmouth MICHIGAN Birmingham Casco Township Iron Mountain Petoskey Walker MINNESOTA Burnsville Eden Prairie Ironton Lino Lakes Mantorville Maple Grove Medina/Hunter Farms SD Orono Shorewood Wayzata MISSISSIPPI Oxford MISSOURI Bozeman Kansas City Kirkwood MONTANA Missoula NEBRASKA NEVADA Las Vegas Reno NEW HAMPSHIRE Exeter NEW JERSEY Haddonfield Hoboken Monmouth Morristown Oak Ridge Ocean Grove Princeton Ridgewood West Orange NEW MEXICO Las Cruces NEW YORK Canandaigua East Aurora East Hampton Village East Marion East Norwich Oyster Bay Elmira Herkimer New York City Pelham Sands Point West Elmira NORTH CAROLINA Apex Carolina Shores Chapel Hill Charlotte Greenville Holly Springs Huntersville Ocean Isle Beach Weaverville NORTH DAKOTA OHIO Avon Lake Canal Winchester Huron Landen Oakwood Rocky River Seven Hills Shaker Heights Solon Sylvania OKLAHOMA OREGON Bend Lake Oswego Portland West Linn PENNSYLVANIA Berwyn Bloomsburg Bryn Mawr - Lower Merion Township Chestnut Hills Clarkdale Cranberry Twp Dowingtown Dublin East Petersburg Edgewood Borough, Pittsburgh Franklin Park Borough Forest Hills Glen Mills Havertown Landisville Lower Makefield Township Paoli Philadelphia Pittsburgh Richland Township State College Wayne RHODE ISLAND Lincoln Newport North Kingstown SOUTH CAROLINA Aiken Beaufort Cheraw Clover Columbia Johns Island Mount Pleasant Newberry Woodside SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE Crossville Fairfield Glade Farragut Nashville West Nashville TEXAS Austin Dallas Frisco Grand Prairie Houston McAllen Mission Pllugerville Porter Rollingwood University Park UTAH Draper Park City Stansbury Park Sun City Tooele County VERMONT South Burlington VIRGINIA Alexandria Annandale Arlington Ashburn Fairfax Fairfax Station Reston Roanoke South Burlington Springfield Vienna WASHINGTON Bellevue Bremerton Edmonds Fircrest Newport Normandy Park Olympia Seattle Snohomish WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN Grand Chute Madisonville Menasha Milwaukee Waukesha WYOMING For more information: Tel (818) 249-9691 e-mail: info@lasiewicz.org Website: www.pickleballnoiserelief.com All You Can Do Copyright © 2025: Midyne Spear Augusta, GA 5/19/25 partial capo 4 C C/B Am7 Roses are blooming today F C G Am A parade of color waltzing through the gray F C E7 Am River’s rushing madly to the sea F C G C And my mind is drifting further from me I drink my café con leche Talk for hours with my oldest compadre She doesn’t care that I’m prone to overshare Or tell the same stories of who, what, when, and where G F C Chorus: I dance on the edge of the great abyss G F C There’s so much in this world I’m going to miss E7 Am You watch how I stumble knowing I will tumble F G And all you can do is wish Am7 F Bridge: It’s the simple things in life that make me smile each day Am7 E7 The art I draw, the songs you play F Am7 G The words I write as I slowly fade away Chorus I sit and watch the flowers grow While dust fills my head with nowhere to go As I hesitate and taste my bitter fate Wandering this labyrinth with no hope of escape Chorus Repeat 1st verse