c. ZON-23-080 (ARC-23-108) 760 N OCEAN BLVD—PALM BEACH COUNTRY CLUB (COMBO)—SPECIAL EXCEPTION WITH SITE PLAN REVIEW AND VARIANCES. The applicant, Palm Beach Country Club, Inc. (Robert Schlager, President), has filed an application requesting Town Council review and approval for modifications to an existing previously approved private club which is a special exception use in a residential zoning district by adding two pickelball courts on the Fairview Road property owned by the Palm Beach Country Club. And Variances (1) to reduce the required side (west) setback, (2) to reduce the height of required court fencing, and (3) to reduce the height of required landscape screening. The Architectural Commission shall perform design review of the application.
Public Comment, Town of Palm Beach Admin
admin
over 1 year ago
Received via email on 7/12/23:
Dear ARCOM and Council Boards,
I am writing to formally support the approval and installation of pickleball courts on our street, Fairview Road. I have lived on Fairview Road for three years and have hoped for some time that someone would make good use of the vacant lot next to the croquet court. The lot has been un-developed and used for golf court maintenance and storage of equipment such as tractors, pipes, and other debris: frankly, somewhat of an eye sore. I am thrilled that PBCC has decided to upgrade our street by developing the land and building pickleball courts to complement the existing Padel and tennis courts.
Here are some key points to consider in support of this proposal:
1. Increasing Popularity: Pickleball is currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. By providing dedicated courts in our neighborhood, we will cater to the increasing demand for this activity and attract more members to participate.
2. Utilization of Space: Our street possesses ample space that could be repurposed to accommodate pickleball courts without causing any inconvenience or obstruction to traffic flow. We can transform underutilized areas into a vibrant recreational hub. The recent addition of the Padel Court and associated landscaping has significantly improved the vacant land. It is almost as though the vegetation recently planted has been in place for years. How impressive it is that PBCC was able to obtain such luscious landscaping so quickly.
3. Safety and Noise Mitigation: It is important to note that pickleball is generally a quiet sport when implementing acoustical controls which is included in the proposal. The acoustical requirements include noise reducing rackets, acousta-fence sound absorption materials and dense landscaping with a six-foot-high privacy sight wall. Compared to basketball, skateboarding, tennis, soccer, and other sporting events with multiple persons, pickleball is no worse than two tennis courts. In fact, less than the 10 tennis courts in the general locus. Noise levels are minimal; and the courts have been designed with sound-absorbing materials and restricted hours to eliminate any concerns whatsoever. There are no light and no night use proposed.
I kindly request your thorough consideration of this proposal during the next board meeting. I am confident that the new pickleball courts will be a welcome and positive addition to our neighborhood. Please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Doug Ostrover
Received via email on 8/4/23:
Dear Mayor and Council,
I live at 241 Fairview Road, Palm Beach, next door to the proposed pickle ball courts on Fairview Road. The first we learned of this was when we received the notice concerning the variances and special exceptions requested in application number ARC 23 108 (ZON 23 080)_760 N OCEAN BLVD COMBO_SUB_7 11 23 which is titled “Pickleball Courts at Palm Beach Country Club” on the mailed zoning notice.
I am writing to express my opposition to the application.
This proposal at this location is bad on every level. First, the title of the Application is misleading. The proposed pickleball courts are not “at Palm Beach Country Club”; they are on Fairview Road. The proposed pickleball courts will be less than 25’ from the our 2-story home at 241 Fairview and less than 100’ feet for other homes on the street.
Pickleball noise will cause noise pollution within our residential neighborhood. According to prominent noise engineers, garbage truck backup beepers are right in the same pitch of pickleball. We will be dealing with this level of noise and pitch all day long.
https://www.npr.org/2023/06/09/1181246866/pickleball-noise- problem-courts-bats-pl
Why do these courts have to be built in the middle of a residential block instead of somewhere in the middle of the Palm Beach Country Club with its 88 acres? Even if no variances were involved, there are no conditions that the Town could impose that would eliminate this noise.
This lot where they are proposing to build the courts is zoned residential. A reasonable use could be made of the Property without a variance, namely, building a single- family home. The minimal variance required to make reasonable use of the Property is no variance at all.
I urge you to deny the Application, and from recent discussions with my neighbors, I believe my opinions are shared by many who have not managed to attend meetings or write letters and emails.
Thank you for your continued service to and support of our Town.
Best regards,
Ayla Farnos
241 Fairview Road
Palm Beach, FL 33168
Received via email on 8/4/2023:
Dear Mayor and Honorable Members of the Town Council:
I live at 237 Ridgeview Drive and oppose the placement of Pickleball courts on Fairview Road. This placement is wrong for multiple reasons which will be obvious to all of you.
Received via email on 7/12/23:
Dear ARCOM and Council Boards,
I am writing to formally support the approval and installation of pickleball courts on our street, Fairview Road. I have lived on Fairview Road for three years and have hoped for some time that someone would make good use of the vacant lot next to the croquet court. The lot has been un-developed and used for golf court maintenance and storage of equipment such as tractors, pipes, and other debris: frankly, somewhat of an eye sore. I am thrilled that PBCC has decided to upgrade our street by developing the land and building pickleball courts to complement the existing Padel and tennis courts.
Here are some key points to consider in support of this proposal:
1. Increasing Popularity: Pickleball is currently one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States. By providing dedicated courts in our neighborhood, we will cater to the increasing demand for this activity and attract more members to participate.
2. Utilization of Space: Our street possesses ample space that could be repurposed to accommodate pickleball courts without causing any inconvenience or obstruction to traffic flow. We can transform underutilized areas into a vibrant recreational hub. The recent addition of the Padel Court and associated landscaping has significantly improved the vacant land. It is almost as though the vegetation recently planted has been in place for years. How impressive it is that PBCC was able to obtain such luscious landscaping so quickly.
3. Safety and Noise Mitigation: It is important to note that pickleball is generally a quiet sport when implementing acoustical controls which is included in the proposal. The acoustical requirements include noise reducing rackets, acousta-fence sound absorption materials and dense landscaping with a six-foot-high privacy sight wall. Compared to basketball, skateboarding, tennis, soccer, and other sporting events with multiple persons, pickleball is no worse than two tennis courts. In fact, less than the 10 tennis courts in the general locus. Noise levels are minimal; and the courts have been designed with sound-absorbing materials and restricted hours to eliminate any concerns whatsoever. There are no light and no night use proposed.
I kindly request your thorough consideration of this proposal during the next board meeting. I am confident that the new pickleball courts will be a welcome and positive addition to our neighborhood. Please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience to discuss further.
Sincerely,
Doug Ostrover
Received via email on 8/4/23:
Dear Mayor and Council,
I live at 241 Fairview Road, Palm Beach, next door to the proposed pickle ball courts on Fairview Road. The first we learned of this was when we received the notice concerning the variances and special exceptions requested in application number ARC 23 108 (ZON 23 080)_760 N OCEAN BLVD COMBO_SUB_7 11 23 which is titled “Pickleball Courts at Palm Beach Country Club” on the mailed zoning notice.
I am writing to express my opposition to the application.
This proposal at this location is bad on every level. First, the title of the Application is misleading. The proposed pickleball courts are not “at Palm Beach Country Club”; they are on Fairview Road. The proposed pickleball courts will be less than 25’ from the our 2-story home at 241 Fairview and less than 100’ feet for other homes on the street.
Pickleball noise will cause noise pollution within our residential neighborhood. According to prominent noise engineers, garbage truck backup beepers are right in the same pitch of pickleball. We will be dealing with this level of noise and pitch all day long.
https://www.npr.org/2023/06/09/1181246866/pickleball-noise- problem-courts-bats-pl
Why do these courts have to be built in the middle of a residential block instead of somewhere in the middle of the Palm Beach Country Club with its 88 acres? Even if no variances were involved, there are no conditions that the Town could impose that would eliminate this noise.
This lot where they are proposing to build the courts is zoned residential. A reasonable use could be made of the Property without a variance, namely, building a single- family home. The minimal variance required to make reasonable use of the Property is no variance at all.
I urge you to deny the Application, and from recent discussions with my neighbors, I believe my opinions are shared by many who have not managed to attend meetings or write letters and emails.
Thank you for your continued service to and support of our Town.
Best regards,
Ayla Farnos
241 Fairview Road
Palm Beach, FL 33168
Received via email on 8/4/2023:
Dear Mayor and Honorable Members of the Town Council:
I live at 237 Ridgeview Drive and oppose the placement of Pickleball courts on Fairview Road. This placement is wrong for multiple reasons which will be obvious to all of you.
Very truly yours,
Rita B. Rampell