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HDC asks applicant to relocate or better screen proposed Maxey Pond sports court
Summary
A proposed sports court near Maxey Pond drew commissioner concern over visibility from the pond and the bike path. The HDC asked the applicant to consider moving the court farther from the shoreline and to add natural screening; the application was held for revisions.
A proposal for a sunken sports court near Maxey Pond prompted the Historic District Commission on Aug. 26 to ask the applicant to reconsider siting and screening before the board would approve the plan.
Designer Lucas (presenting) said the court was placed in the rear of the lot and that grading would sink the court up to 9 feet on the high side and 4 feet on the low side to minimize visibility. He proposed a mix of six-foot fencing for the short ends and a stepped pattern on the long sides: six feet for the corner areas and three feet for the middle runs, with wooden posts and natural or lightly stained finish. The court would sit adjacent to land-bank property and a heavily used public bike path.
Commissioners visited the site and reported that the view from the public way toward the house and proposed court is open in places and that screening would be difficult to make look natural. Commissioner Angus recommended moving the court away from the pond-side edge and closer to the house so the land bank and roadside views are less affected. Several commissioners asked for additional landscape screening and a different location option.
The commission voted unanimously to hold the application for revisions and directed the applicant to present alternative sitings and additional plant-based screening strategies at the next hearing.
