Governor Ross considers banning private pickleball courts
Governor Ross is considering whether to ban pickleball courts on private property.
The Town Council heard from staff at its meeting Thursday about implementing pickleball court regulations because of the home court and the potential noise disturbance it would cause.
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“After lengthy discussion, the City Council decided to continue the matter until the October City Council meeting to allow staff to respond to requests for additional information from council members,” Mayor Bill Kircher said.
Pickleball has exploded in popularity in Marin County, but the noise it creates has irritated residents, prompting regulations and noise assessments for the paddle-and-ball game.
“The city council was on the verge of banning it,” said City Councilman Matthew Salter.
Salter said several area residents have spoken out on the issue, both in favor and against, and he said staff will likely write rules to allow the games but impose restrictions on hearing range and equipment.
“New, quieter balls and paddles can be purchased before the ban is imposed,” Salter said. “The issue is not the sport, it's the noise.”
In Ross, noise limits for outdoor use areas are set at 55 decibels. To meet that decibel level, courts would need to be at least 250 feet away from residential buildings, according to the staff report.
Corte Madera, Mill Valley and San Anselmo do not require a use permit to develop private pickleball courts, according to the staff report.
The city of Tiburon will conduct a noise impact study for pickleball courts in 2022. The city is required to conduct an audibility report to develop the courts and ensure noise is kept to a minimum, a staff report states.
Mitigation measures such as sound barriers can cost anywhere from $25,000 for soundproofing materials to up to $90,000 for construction.
In Corte Madera, two new pickleball courts are being built at Town Park. The two courts, which will have soundproofing walls, are estimated to cost $350,000.
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