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Commission approves residential pickleball court with noise, lighting and setback conditions
Summary
Wildwood Planning & Zoning Commission approved a homeowner's request to construct a combination pickleball/basketball court at 18027 Shepherd Ridge Road with conditions including a 9 p.m. light shutoff, a 75-foot setback, sound-mitigating barrier and engineered plans.
The Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission on a unanimous roll-call vote approved an accessory outdoor game court striped for pickleball and a single basketball goal at 18027 Shepherd Ridge Road, subject to engineering, landscaping, lighting and noise-mitigation conditions.
The commission's Department of Planning recommended support "but with some additional conditions that are outlined in the report," saying the recommended package includes engineered grading and stormwater review, landscaping and lighting compliance, a 9 p.m. timer on the court lighting and curfew aligned with that shutoff. Mr. Vinic, Department of Planning, told the commission the site sits in the Cox Creek watershed and that some retaining walls will exceed 6 feet in height.
The department also flagged pickleball-specific concerns. "The research that we conducted identifies the pickleball noise as being louder from a decibel standpoint," Mr. Vinic said, and added that the sound from paddle strikes has a higher frequency than many other outdoor games. To reduce impact on neighboring properties, the department recommended a sound barrier, increasing the usual 30-foot side and rear setback to 75 feet for the court, and a requirement that lighting be LED and fitted with a timer to turn off at 9 p.m.
Commission members asked about how the sound barrier and landscaping would be designed and whether the proposed light would shine toward the residence. Mr. Vinic said those details would be refined during site-plan review, noting the department requires an engineered plan set that Public Works will review under the city's grading code and stormwater rules. A petitioner's representative was present but did not address the commission during the meeting.
Motion and vote: Mayor Mary Gaetano moved to approve the department's recommendation; Commissioner Clayton seconded. Roll call recorded unanimous "yes" votes from members present; the motion carried.
The commission's approval is conditioned on the items in the department report: engineered plans for grading and stormwater, landscaping and lighting compliance (LED fixture on a 15-foot standard with a 9 p.m. shutoff), a curfew matching the lighting shutoff, a sound-mitigating fence or wall placed to best reduce noise, and an increased 75-foot setback in lieu of the typical 30-foot side/rear setback. The department will review those details during site-plan review.
Background: The parcel is in the NU (Nonurban Residence) district and the request was reviewed under chapter 415.09 of the Wildwood zoning code that governs accessory outdoor game courts. The department noted increasing residential interest in pickleball courts and referenced examples of other municipalities that address pickleball noise in their codes.
The commission's action allows the court to proceed under the stated conditions; construction and the lighting/landscaping details remain subject to the city's site-plan and public-works review processes.
