Pleasanton planning commission upholds approval for 15-foot tennis-court lights at 2207 Martin Avenue

The Pleasanton Planning Commission unanimously upheld the zoning administrator’s approval of an administrative design review (case P25-0236) on Sept. 10, allowing six 15-foot tennis-court light poles to be installed in the rear yard of 2207 Martin Avenue, the commission said. The motion to uphold the zoning administrator’s decision passed by roll call vote with all commissioners voting yes.

The commission’s decision follows a revised photometric study and revised planting and shielding measures submitted by the property owners, who sought permission to install six 15-foot poles with 18-inch extension arms and 5,000-K color-temperature fixtures. The application proposes three poles along the north side of the court (closest to the adjoining property at 3520 Dennis Drive) fitted with 12-inch shields. The applicants and staff said the photometric analysis shows no measurable light spillover to the Peterson residence at 3520 Dennis Drive or to the Dennis Drive public right-of-way.

Why this matters: the project revisits a long-running file tied to PUD 148, the development approval that established the court location and site standards for 2207 Martin Avenue. The PUD set a requirement that tennis-court lighting above 8 feet must undergo administrative design review, and neighbors appealed the zoning administrator’s approval after that review. Planning commissioners emphasized they were only reviewing the lighting design and…