Zoning regulations for West University Place’s residential sports courts advance

Pickleball was named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.

Digging deeper

The proposed changes to the residential zoning districts are aimed at making the city’s zoning ordinances easier to understand for residents and developers, as previously reported in Community Impact.

City code does not allow for the construction of tennis courts at single-family residences unless they conform to a set of special rules. Cutrer said those regulations would also be extended to pickleball courts and other sports courts in most cases due to concerns over the noise they could potentially create.

Officials with the zoning and planning commission proposed the following amendments to the city's zoning ordinance:

• Sports courts and practice enclosures: provides for additional regulations for the installation of sports courts and practice enclosures within the residential areas. This ordinance was further clarified to show where on a building site such courts and enclosures would be prohibited.
• Single-family districts consolidation: consolidating SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 zoning districts into one unified Single-Family District.

• Feb. 12: West U City Council, and the zoning and planning commission held a joint public hearing to receive comments from the public on the proposed amendments. No public comments were received by city officials
• March 21: The final revised reports were approved by the zoning and planning commission members.
• April 8: The first of two readings for ordinance amendments was approved.
• TBD: A date for the second reading is yet to be determined.