Gardena planning commission approves indoor pickleball facility at 1495 West 130th Street

The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission on Sept. 16 approved an environmental assessment and conditional use permit to allow an indoor pickleball facility at 1495 West 130th Street in an Industrial M-1 zone. The commission adopted Resolution PC 13-25, approving Environmental Assessment No. 9-25 and Conditional Use Permit No. 4-25, subject to conditions of approval and directing staff to file a notice of exemption; the motion passed 5-0.

Staff presented the project as a conversion of a 26,136-square-foot warehouse between Halldale Avenue and Brighton Avenue to indoor pickleball courts, saying the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (Class 1, existing facilities). Staff said the applicant’s site plan shows one warehouse building on a one-acre parcel and that the Gardena Municipal Code does not specify parking standards for indoor pickleball; staff used the city’s standards for offices and tennis courts to calculate parking requirements.

According to staff, the project requires 32 parking spaces under that methodology; the applicant will restripe the lot to add four spaces for a total of 36 parking spaces, including two employee spaces and two accessible spaces. Staff also presented a floor plan showing courts, a storage area and a check-in area, and said hours of operation would be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily with peak hours 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays.

Alex Lee, who identified himself as a representative of Dink House, and Thomas Lee, also representing Dink House, spoke on behalf of the applicant. Alex Lee said the business was looking forward to the decision and described pickleball as a community activity: "I've been playing pickleball for a year. It's been, I guess, my saving grace. I just — I play every day," he said. Architect Crystal Wong introduced herself and did not add further comments at the hearing.

Commissioners asked no substantive questions of the applicant during the hearing. One staff member noted a trend of repurposing industrial buildings in the area into indoor sports and recreation uses, citing nearby facilities such as batting cages and other indoor sports venues.

The commission’s approval was unanimous among the five voting members present. The resolution directs staff to file a CEQA notice of exemption; staff also noted that the decision is final unless a written appeal and appropriate fee are filed with the city clerk within 10 calendar days of adoption, or the city council calls the matter for review within the same 10-day period.

The commission briefly discussed the property’s history: staff and commissioners said the family that owns the building has operated a warehouse/distribution use for decades and that the applicant previously had operated without proper entitlements and subsequently submitted the formal application now before the commission. No public comments were received during the public hearing period and no speaker slips were submitted.