Farmington Tennis Club to Revamp Plans for Outdoor Recreation Area

The owners of on Farmington Rd. have an ambitious plan to expand their summer program with a 30-foot-high ropes course and other outdoor recreational facilities.

But neighbors at Pinewood Condominiums say the area will likely be a noisy nuisance, and they're concerned that ropes course users will be able to look directly into their homes. 

The club brought plans to a Farmington Planning Commission public hearing Monday night. Planning commission member Jeffrey Scott recused himself from the discussion, because his architectural firm represents the tennis club owners.

Architect Marsha Butkovich said the expansion on the building's north side is designed to "give kids something more structured to do while they're at camp." The club offers a summer camp program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays from June through the start of school in September. 

A maximum of 50 children would be allowed in the fenced area, which also includes a scaled down basketball court and soccer field, Butkovich said, with 18 on the ropes course at one time. There will also be a lower ropes course for children under 42 inches tall. Trained support staff will be assigned to those areas, she added, and the ropes course may also be used after hours by professional and other groups interested in team-building exercises. 

Long-time Farmington resident Mary Bush, who is vice president of the Pinewood association board, read a letter objecting to the project, drafted on behalf of Pinewood residents. She said there are 13 buildings with 40 units next door to the project. 

Adding an outdoor recreational use, she said, will "significantly increase the noise level" and "greatly change the character" of the condominium development, potentially leading to lower property values. The association is concerned about the area attracting young people who might be tempted to climb the proposed chain link fence. 

Residents also wanted a definition of the word "dusk", as the proposal calls for the ropes course to be open until then. Butkovich said, "I think if we had to define a time, that would certainly be agreeable to the Farmington Tennis Club." 

Noting residents' concerns about noise, Butkovich said the development could be moved to the east, closer to Farmington Road, to minimize the impact. City planner Sherrin Hood also suggested noise damping fencing, rather than the proposed chain link fence. "We would be willing to submit a revised plan to mitigate some of these issues," Butkovich said. 

While planning commissioners said they likely wouldn't approve the plan "as is", they agreed to table the matter to their May 14 meeting, allowing the club to present plan modifications. While there will not be another public hearing, commission chair Kevin Christensen said, residents will be able to ask questions at the meeting. They may also submit written comments on the plan, which will be available for review at the city manager's office May 10.