Back 9 indoor golf at 118 Turnpike continued; board requests overnight-use data and refined lighting plan

The Planning Board continued the public hearing for a major site plan approval/change of use for a proposed Back 9 indoor golf facility at 118 Turnpike Road (suite 103). The applicant, Eric Barbieri, described the business model as a membership-based indoor golf studio with public tee times during daytime hours and secured, time-stamped member access overnight.

The facility is planned to operate with no alcohol service, a monitored app-based entry system and 24/7 recorded access for members. The board's questions focused on overnight utilization, lighting and parking for larger events. Planning members asked the applicant to provide data on utilization between midnight and 4 a.m., the average membership per site for comparable locations, incident history at other franchise sites and estimated peak occupancy in the building (bays and lounge use). The applicant said typical industry practice is about 40 members per bay as a rule of thumb and that membership controls and the booking system limit access without an active tee time.

Board members also asked for a refined lighting plan showing options to limit light trespass and dark-sky impacts while allowing wayfinding and safety lighting near Route 9; the applicant agreed to consult a lighting engineer and return with alternative mitigation (timers, motion sensors and reduced signage illumination). The applicant requested waivers for sign illumination hours and some outdoor lighting controls; the board said it would review those requests after seeing an alternative proposal.

The board continued the hearing to the Planning Board meeting on August 18, 2025. The decision-deadline was extended to Aug. 23, 2025, to give the applicant time to produce the requested materials.