Walnut Creek planning commissioners approve Rossmoor six‑court pickleball facility with noise and tree conditions

The Walnut Creek Planning Commission on March 20 adopted a resolution approving a CEQA categorical exemption and granting design review, tree‑removal and tree‑drip‑line encroachment permits for a proposed 12,000‑square‑foot, six‑court pickleball facility to be located adjacent to the Stanley Dollar event center in the Rossmoor community.

Assistant planner Gerardo Victoria told commissioners that “the project before you today is the Rossmore Pickleball Courts” and described the site at 1021 Stanley Dollar Drive as a 2.4‑acre parcel zoned Planned Development 1483. Victoria said the facility is proposed as an accessory clubhouse use and that staff had received “over a hundred emails” (about 80% in support), one petition in support with more than 400 signatures and one opposing petition with more than 200 signatures. He also said the project team relied on a noise study that found nearby residential areas would be below the general plan’s typically cited 60‑decibel guideline.

The project applicant and operators, represented by Jeff Mathison, general manager for Rossmoor/Walnut Creek, and architect David Massetin of ELS Architects, described site selection and design decisions made to limit noise and visual impacts. Mathison said Rossmoor’s board had considered multiple sites over several years and selected the open area next to the event center because it offers…