Zoning administrator approves temporary permit for Lifetime pickleball tournament with parking, noise conditions

The San Clemente zoning administrator on April 9 approved a temporary special-activity permit for a seven-day Lifetime pickleball tournament set for May 4–10, 2026, finding that traffic and noise impacts can be mitigated under the permit conditions.

Mr. Curo, the project planner, told the administrator that Project 25-543 would run daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and that the applicant expects roughly 400 attendees earlier in the week and up to 1,000 per day from Wednesday through Sunday. The planner said staff reviewed the event’s operations — which have occurred at the site since 2022 — and recommended approval subject to conditions, including temporary parking changes, a traffic management plan and noise controls.

The permit requires the applicant to operate a shuttle between the Outlets and the Lifetime facility for off-site parking, with a 20-minute headway; staff said the Outlets has reserved up to 600 spaces for the event. The permit also adds a requirement that the tournament operator actively monitor and enforce parking on Kaya Aagula so spaces fronting Clarence Lobo Elementary School and Ranch Park remain available for school and park users.

The administrator noted that alcohol service is limited to Lifetime’s on-site Life Cafe, consistent with the facility’s existing conditional-use permit, and that a small, non-amplified stage may be used for player talks or acoustic performances. Staff included conditions that any amplified speakers be oriented west, away from nearby residences, and that the city’s code compliance division perform a sound test with a noise meter to calibrate allowable volume.

Briana Stevens, senior general manager at Lifetime and Rancho Sani, thanked the city for accommodating virtual participation and said the tournament is ‘‘one of our best events.’’ An applicant representative identified as Haley confirmed that the pattern of higher spectator attendance beginning Wednesday is the same as in prior years and that ticketing practices — center-court sales later in the week — account for the change in daily counts.

Staff told the administrator that last year’s event prompted few complaints and that the proposed additional conditions (noted above) address the main community concerns. The administrator closed the public hearing, found the project categorically exempt from CEQA, and adopted Resolution ZA 26006 approving the temporary use permit subject to the listed conditions.

The administrator returned to routine business, reviewed minutes and set the next special meeting for April 21, 2026.