Council denies conditional use permit for private pickleball court at 10282 Old Lamplighter Lane over noise and drainage concerns

The Villa Park City Council, sitting as a hearing body under Mayor Pro Tem Jordan Wu, denied a conditional use permit (CUP) for an existing private pickleball court at 10282 Old Lamplighter Lane after public testimony and a staff report that concluded the court's noise generation would exceed the city's exterior noise standards.

Staff explained that recreational courts and exterior lighting in the city's E-4 zoning district require a CUP. The submittal showed a playing surface set in the northeast corner of the property (playing surface roughly 30 by 60 feet; court area roughly 20 by 44 feet by the applicant's plans), set back several feet from property lines. Staff reported the owner had initially installed six 20-foot LED light poles, then removed three poles along the east side after the city determined they failed a required 10-foot setback; three poles on the west side remained. Staff also reported that the owner had installed six 2-inch drain holes to direct stormwater west toward Old Lamplighter Lane, but the city engineer had not received updated drainage plans for review.

City staff measured distances from the court to adjacent residences (approximately 50 to 324 feet) and cited published average noise figures: a peak sound of about 70 decibels when the ball is struck and an average of 59 decibels during play. The city's zoning ordinance (article 6-6) caps daytime exterior noise at 55 decibels (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Based on staff analysis, the court's expected noise levels would exceed the 55-decibel daytime limit at nearby residences. For those reasons staff recommended denial.

Three neighbors and the homeowner testified. Lance Friedman, a nearby neighbor, said his primary issue was the court lighting because players sometimes continued after 10 p.m.; he said the noise itself was less of a problem than late-night play under lights. Cal Milan, who identified himself as Dominic's father and a contractor, said the owner had removed lights when asked and that he supports outdoor activity for children. The homeowner, Dominic, said all lights had been removed in April and that the household had complied with requests to stop play when neighbors raised concerns; he said he and other players immediately halted play when asked.

Council members expressed concern about the permit process and the sequence of events: staff said the city learned of the completed improvements only after they had been constructed, and the council stressed that residents should coordinate with staff before building such facilities. Councilman Chris Frackelton moved to approve staff's recommendation to deny the CUP; after a second, the motion carried with the three eligible voting members in favor. Mayor Nicole Jones and Councilwoman Nicole Miles recused themselves because of proximity to the property. The denial is recorded as a formal resolution.

Why it matters: The decision enforces the city's noise standards and permitting process for residential recreational courts; the council highlighted unresolved drainage-plan submittals and the importance of pre-construction outreach to neighbors and staff.