Planning commission recommends approval of indoor pickleball club at 390 Commerce Drive

WOODBURY, Minn. — The Woodbury Planning Commission on June 30 recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow an indoor pickleball club at 390 Commerce Drive, where the applicant proposes eight indoor courts within an existing 65,000-square-foot building.

The applicant, S and F Corporation, proposed occupying 22,000 square feet for commercial recreation — a use that requires a conditional use permit because it exceeds 5,000 square feet. Staff member Dan told commissioners that the building currently contains approximately 171 parking stalls and that the proposed recreation use would require about 73 stalls (based on a 1 stall per 300 square feet ratio); staff said the remaining building area would be retained for office and warehouse uses and that peak pickleball hours are expected to occur opposite daytime business-park peaks.

Staff recommended approval, subject to conditions in the staff report, and commissioners added an additional condition requiring a full exterior lighting and security plan. "Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit project number 03-2025-00581 for the indoor pickleball club subject to the conditions found within your staff report," Dan said. The planning commission voted to recommend approval; the item will go to the city council public hearing on July 16.

Key details: The applicant proposes eight courts in 22,000 square feet, proposed hours of operation from 6 a.m. to midnight and a mixed-use model with some office space and potential coworking in the front portion of the building. The applicant said it intends to lease the whole building if the permit is approved and described access-control measures and membership and drop-in play options.

Commissioners asked about parking, lighting, building condition and sound separation between the warehouse courts and office space. Staff said the building has been well maintained from prior tenant investments and that wall construction between office and warehouse provides substantial sound separation; staff and commissioners agreed that a lighting/security plan should be added as a permit condition. The commission also discussed and affirmed an explicit cap in the approval: the permit limits the commercial recreation to the proposed 22,000 square feet unless an amended conditional use permit is granted.

Action taken: Commissioner John Collum moved to recommend approval with the added lighting and security condition; the motion carried by voice vote. The planning commission's recommendation will be considered by the city council at its July 16 public hearing.