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Commission recommends special use permit for outdoor pickleball courts at Feather Smash site after air-quality and noise review
Summary
The commission voted 5-0 to recommend a special use permit allowing outdoor pickleball courts adjacent to the Feather Smash indoor facility, following reviews of air quality and noise and with conditions noted for fencing, landscaping and lighting to be enforced at civil review.
The Lewisville City Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 18 recommended approval, 5-0, of a special use permit to allow outdoor commercial-amusement (pickleball) courts on a 1.1-acre tract south of East Vista Ridge Mall Drive adjacent to the existing Feather Smash indoor badminton facility.
Staff said the two lots will operate jointly under a shared-parking agreement so the indoor badminton facility and the proposed outdoor pickleball courts will function as one site. The applicant filed an air-quality report after staff raised concerns about a nearby concrete batch plant; the report, prepared by Whitehead Iraq Environmental Services, found no evidence of environmental risk at the proposed courts site, staff said. "They provided studies with 80, 90, 100 and 110 decibels and how that would impact the neighboring residential developments," a planning staff member said when describing the noise analysis.
Why it matters: Neighbors and the adjacent city of Coppell raised concerns about noise and lighting. A representative of the Coppell Greens homeowners association said a combination of an 8-foot fence on a stone base, board-on-board construction and additional shrubs would be necessary to reduce sound transmission toward the subdivision to the east. The HOA also asked the commission to consider the noise study results in its decision; Coppell staff submitted a letter asking the commission to consider HOA concerns.
Details and conditions: The applicant said the proposed courts would be about 3 feet lower in elevation than existing grade, and staff noted the proposal includes more landscaping than required by code and a larger-than-required amount of stone veneer on the small clubhouse. Lighting limits and photometric plans will be reviewed during civil plan review; staff cited city standards limiting light spillover into residential areas (no more than 0.2 foot-candles at property lines) and an overall 20-foot-candle maximum for court lighting. The applicant confirmed the proposed rear fence will be built board-on-board as requested by a neighbor.
Commission discussion and vote: Commissioners heard public comment from the Coppell Greens HOA vice president, who urged a solid board-on-board fence and noted concerns about the batch plant’s future. The applicant confirmed the fence will be board-on-board. Commissioner Aaron moved to recommend approval; Commissioner Francesca seconded. The motion carried, 5-0. Staff noted the item will proceed to City Council with a second public hearing and final decision in March 2025.
Next steps: Civil review will determine final lighting design, photometric compliance, and enforceable fencing/landscaping details.
