Ocoee planning commission recommends approval of Okoi Pickleball Complex preliminary site plan

The Ocoee Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 9 voted to recommend approval of the preliminary large-scale site plan for the Okoi Pickleball Complex (LS2025-005), a multi-building indoor pickleball facility proposed on three parcels near the terminus of Jacob Nathan Boulevard.

Deputy Service Director Whitfield told the commission the plan converts a previously proposed outdoor facility into an indoor complex that now proposes 25 indoor courts plus one outdoor championship court, three buildings, on-site dining and support spaces. Whitfield said the site is roughly three acres of parcels that contain wetlands and floodplain on the west side and that the properties fall inside the city's Community Redevelopment Area boundary.

The revision responds to issues raised during a 2024 special-exception application, Whitfield said: "They reduced it by 18 courts, providing the parking ratios for the pickleball courts as at staff's recommendations and then providing 2 emergency ingress egress points, to satisfy the concerns raised by the fire marshal's office." He also said the applicant will continue final engineering at the final site-plan stage and that the Development Review Committee unanimously recommended approval after the applicant elected to proceed as a preliminary plan.

Under the current plan, Building 1 (north) would contain 15 courts and amenities including locker rooms, a sauna, a pro shop described as "just under 400 square feet," and indoor/outdoor dining overlooking the championship court. Building 2 (center) would include 10 courts with spectator viewing; Building 3 (southernmost) would provide banquet/rental space, with Whitfield saying "the total square footage of the rental space itself is about 8,000 square feet." The presentation included proposed landscaping along the north and west edges and elevations facing Jacob Nathan.

Whitfield told the commission staff had identified outstanding engineering and utilities comments that would be addressed during final plan review. He also said the applicant has submitted signed and sealed plan sheets for review but that the commission's recommendation at this meeting applied only to the site-plan sheet and general layout.

Three members of the public who live in the nearby Hammocks neighborhood spoke at the public hearing. Eileen Staples said she supported the conversion to an indoor facility but asked the commission to require additional screening between the site and adjacent homes: "I'm asking for consideration to put some kind of fencing or barrier up to prevent... the neighborhood to prevent... site in onto the facility." William Cordell asked that the developer extend or improve perimeter fencing and tree buffers along the north/retention area to reduce the potential for vehicles driving onto the retention area and to address access and circulation concerns.

Ravan Tumala, representing the project developers, apologized for arriving late and told the commission the team heard neighborhood concerns and would "see what we can do to make it a better place for everybody," according to the transcript.

Commissioner Keller moved to recommend approval of the preliminary large-scale site plan; Member Galvin seconded the motion. The chair called the vote and the recommendation carried. The recommendation forwards the preliminary plan to the next level of review, with final engineering, utility and permitting work still required before construction.

Why it matters: The project replaces a previously denied outdoor special-exception proposal and proposes a sizable indoor recreational complex in Ocoee's northwest CRA. The site contains wetlands and floodplain, and neighbors raised concerns about noise, visual buffering, traffic circulation and potential liquor service tied to on-site restaurants.

Next steps: The developer will address outstanding engineering and utilities comments in final plan submittals, and the city will complete its final-site-plan review and permit approvals before construction can begin.