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The Pleasanton Planning Commission is recommending a new set of rules for residential sport courts, including set hours of operation and height limits for fencing and light fixtures.
The commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend several municipal code amendments for sport courts, an well as another set of changes regarding canopy signage, to the City Council, which is expected to take a final vote on the ordinance changes at a future meeting.
Among the proposed changes, all new private sport courts could only be used from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fencing would have a maximum height limit of 15 feet, though the zoning administrator can allow fences as tall as 20 feet if they find the additional height is necessary to contain the ball and the increase would not create an “unreasonable” visual impact on neighbors. The commission is also proposing minimum setbacks of 10 feet, though applicants can seek setbacks up to 15 feet depending on the distance from neighboring homes.
The proposed code changes will not apply to existing sports courts.
“The intent of the proposed amendments is not to discourage or crack down on these recreational amenities, but rather to establish clear, reasonable standards that balance their use with the protection of neighboring properties,” Associate Planner Eric Luchini said during the Oct. 28 Planning Commission meeting, adding that the goal of the new provisions is to protect the “character of adjoining residential and commercial development.”
Staff said the code amendments were prompted by neighbor disputes regarding a backyard tennis court.
About a year ago, the City Council voted 3-2 to deny a homeowner’s application to install six 15-foot-tall tennis court lights in their backyard.Â
The application dated back to 2023 and underwent a somewhat of a contentious process where the homeowner, who lives on Martin Avenue, applied for two separate applications: one for the construction of the tennis court and a later one for the six overhead lights. Part of the contention at the time had to do with the homeowner pouring concrete for the court before seeking permission from the city.
The application drew criticisms from the council and the Planning Commission about the lack of specific codes and regulations surrounding sports courts.
“Today, without these standards, someone could go pour a 10-by-20-foot slab of concrete in their backyard, put a net on it, no lights and there’s no permits required … they could go start hitting the tennis ball today without any restrictions or impact considerations of their neighbors,” Luchini said.
Luchini said the amendments focus on “neighborhood compatibility and predictable review through objective design and performance standards.”
“We’re trying to look at this as kind of an all-encompassing approach in terms of being able to allow a property owner to enjoy their property while still protecting surrounding neighbors,” Luchini said.
Vice Chair Anurag Jain was the only commissioner who voiced concerns, saying the new setback rules may limit homeowners with smaller lots. He said that the 10-15 feet setback requirements might be too much for parents who simply want to build some sort of hard surface for their kids to play.Â
“I’m a little concerned about those situations where people don’t have much space to go by but they have kids who want to play basketball … and they don’t really have much space in their backyard,” Jain said.
However, Commissioner Dave Jagoe said that is simply a tradeoff homeowners have to make when purchasing smaller sized lots, noting that not every home has the space for an outdoor pool and other amenities.
“If you have a small lot, you’re going to have to go play basketball somewhere, and that’s just the way it is,” Jagoe said. “You can’t try to fit something into a small lot that doesn’t work.”
City seeks to limit illumination, branding on canopy signs
The commission on Wednesday also recommended rule changes for canopy signage, prompted by previous City Council discussions regarding two different gas station canopies near downtown.Â
Those discussions about the Gulf Gas Station and Shell station, both located on the corner of First Street and Ray Street, each ended in 3-2 split votes from the council in favor of allowing the proposed signage, with recognition from council members that there needed to be more stringent rules governing canopy design.
Luchini said the proposed amendments focus on “controlling visual prominence, excessive illumination and corporate branding, while also preserving a reasonable level of business identification.”
He said the amendments would allow individually illuminated letters, logo elements and halo and concealed or integrated lighting on canopies, while prohibiting illuminated cabinet and box signs, exposed raceways and illuminated fascia or color bands.
“In terms of canopy regulations, I’m glad to see that we’re putting them in place,” Commissioner Ken Morgan said during the meeting. “We spent a lot of time on that topic over the last couple years, and I am hopeful that this new ordinance will address some of those concerns.”
The amendments also limit corporate branding, Luchini said, and impose restrictions on when canopy lighting must be turned off and on the glare created by lighting.
“These provisions supplement rather than replace other applicable sign standards,” Luchini said. “Staff’s objective is to accommodate business identification without allowing corporate branding to dominate the canopy.”
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