Alachua County planners approve special exception for Flamingo Sports Center with added privacy fence

The Alachua County Local Planning Agency and Planning Commission voted to approve Z24‑000007, the Flamingo Sports Center special exception, after hearing staff, applicant and nearby‑property testimony and adding a wooden privacy fence as an extra condition.

Staff recommended approval of the 21‑acre outdoor recreation project at 9409 Southwest Archer Road, saying the proposal fits an outdoor‑recreation use allowed in rural agricultural land‑use categories but exceeds the county’s limits for permanent structures, lighting and audio systems, which triggers a special exception process. Planner Bankitar (staff) told the commission the proposed facility would include multiple courts, pavilions, a clubhouse and concessions and that recommended conditions would limit hours, maximum enclosed building area, parking, buffers and sound mitigation.

The applicant, Clay Swagger of EDA Consultants, said the master plan preserves roughly two‑thirds of the site as green space, retains and may expand existing stormwater basins and uses an existing private driveway for access. Swagger said the project team moved pickleball courts west and proposed a 50‑foot vegetative buffer and acoustic screening to address noise concerns; he described the proposed noise measure as “a minimum 10‑foot tall fence with acoustic wraps, designated to achieve a minimum sound attenuation of 24 decibels.”

Commissioners focused questions on whether courts are "permanent" structures, traffic and parking impacts, septic and well service outside the urban cluster, stormwater management and whether the proposed acoustic wraps and a 10‑foot height requirement would be sufficient to reduce the percussive noise associated with pickleball. Staff and the principal planner, Chris Dawson, said stormwater and septic capacity would be addressed at development‑plan review and that the county’s stormwater and noise codes remain enforceable requirements.

Dave Larson, who identified himself as representing Celebration United Methodist Church and was granted party status, urged conditions addressing driveway safety and maintenance of the shared ingress/egress easement. Larson said his wife "almost got t‑boned" while exiting the church driveway and asked for a written maintenance agreement and clearer signage to reduce confusion between church and facility traffic. The applicant replied that ingress/egress easements will allow the church to continue historic use of the driveway and said the property owner would be responsible for maintenance of the portion of the driveway on their property; the applicant also offered signage to direct visitors.

A member of the public, Susan Baird, spoke in support of the facility, noting pickleball’s growing popularity and saying traffic is typically "rolling in, rolling out" rather than concentrated like a ballgame.

After discussion the commission approved staff’s recommendation with the applicant’s additional condition (No. 13) requiring a wooden privacy fence on the eastern boundary and retained the staff‑recommended conditions limiting hours, the maximum footprint of enclosed buildings (6,500 square feet), parking (50–70 spaces plus overflow) and the 10‑foot acoustic fence designed to provide at least a 24‑decibel reduction at the fence line. A proposed amendment to shorten Sunday hours and require paving of the ingress/egress failed for lack of a second. The commission approved the special exception by voice vote with one member recorded as opposed.

The commission’s approval is a land‑use decision to allow the special exception; specific engineering, septic/well permits, stormwater plans and development‑plan approvals are required before construction and must demonstrate compliance with county standards. The applicant and church representatives said they would continue negotiating details — including signage, driveway maintenance and potential adjustments to hours — during development‑plan review.

The commission opened the meeting’s formal public‑comment portion and then moved on to other agenda items. The Flamingo special exception approval concluded with the commission noting the item is quasi‑judicial and that party testimony had been sworn into the record.