Urban Affairs OKs pickleball facility plans

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A rendition of the proposed pickleball facility on Airport Boulevard. (Photo/Courtesy Ambidextrous Ventures LLC)

A rendition of the proposed pickleball facility on Airport Boulevard. (Photo/Courtesy Ambidextrous Ventures LLC)

MARLBOROUGH – A pickleball facility is one step closer to setting up shop at 119 Airport Blvd.

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the City Council’s Urban Affairs Committee approved a special permit, with conditions. The special permit will be sent to the city solicitor.

Urban Affairs Chair Kate Robey said she hopes the permit will be ready for the full City Council in time for its next meeting on Monday, Oct. 7.

The special permit will allow the applicant to build a 19,950-square-foot building on an 85,337-square-foot lot within the limited industrial zoning district.

The facility would include six indoor courts; a small practice court; a pro shop; and restrooms. There would also be an outdoor court, picnic area and 76 parking spaces.

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As part of the conditions, there will be landscape screening to reduce noise; downward-facing exterior lights; and no overnight events such as sleepovers.

The facility will apply for a license to serve beer, wine and malt beverages; serving and consumption of the alcohol will be restricted to the building.

In response to abutters’ concerns regarding noise and parking, Pamela Brown, the attorney representing the applicant, Ambidextrous Ventures LLC, said there would be no parking allowed in the adjoining cul-de-sac, and the proposed outdoor court will not have outdoor lights.

“It’s not an obnoxious use,” said Brown, adding that the proposed outdoor court is far enough from abutters to not cause an issue with noise.

“That was never a quiet area,” said Councilor Donald Landers, noting the area’s past use as an airport.

Hours of operation have been tentatively set for 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. If the facility wants to adjust the hours, they would need to go before the council for a variance on its permit.

“Never in my wildest dreams [did I think] we’d have pickleball there,” said Landers.

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