DRB grants preliminary approval for Moorings Park clubhouse and pool renovation, urges refinements to walkway layout

The Design Review Board gave preliminary approval Thursday to a comprehensive renovation and expansion of Moorings Park’s clubhouse and adjacent pool amenities, a multi‑building campus project that includes a new banquet/dining wing, expanded lap and aquatic pools, and covered walkways designed to better connect several existing buildings.

Grow Architecture principal Robert Hall presented the roughly 32,390 square‑foot program, explaining the plan to add a story‑and‑a‑half dining and banquet wing, a reconfigured Petty Center for aquatics, covered gardened walkways and a system of small fountains and seating that together organize a previously underused central space. Hall said the project aims to tie together disparate buildings and improve circulation for residents across the three Moorings campuses.

Board members praised the central circle concept that organizes the campus but recommended design refinements. Several members suggested simplifying or rethinking a horseshoe covered walkway that some felt diluted the elegant 'circle' that unifies the campus; the board urged the design team to study alternatives, including closing the circle with covered connections while keeping direct paths from residences to the pools. Members also asked applicants to make final materials and color boards available before final review to ensure fascia, stone and roof tile selections match existing campus elements.

Planning staff recommended conditions to secure landscape certification and urged the team to consider adjustments to the horseshoe walkway; staff also captured board comments about fascia depth and material continuity. The motion to approve preliminary design review carried on roll call with staff and board conditions; applicants will return for final review with refined drawings.