Politics & Government

Outdoor Sports Courts' Regs Adjusted in Wildwood

Wildwood city authorization for outdoor game courts now will be based on updated ordinances and codes regarding design, size and location. Public health, safety and welfare issues were analyzed.

For the past several months, city officials reviewed questions about installing and using outdoor game courts on residential lots. Resulting concerns about associated noise, trespass components, balls/pucks and aesthetics had raised issues among neighbors earlier this year.

Regulations governed the placement of these type of courts by setback requirements, heights, lighting designs and grading components. However, Joe Vujnich, Wildwood director of planning and parks, said the regulations did not address all aspects of the facilities, such as the public safety components of trespass caused by projectiles and their related potential to cause harm to neighboring people, pets and property.

Additionally, Vujnich said no architectural review was required of such game courts.

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He also said they discovered during the analysis the actual description of an outdoor game court was ambiguous.

A public hearing led to city representatives proposing the following:

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  1. All outdoor game courts must be authorized by city officials.
  2. The definition of outdoor game courts must be tightened and more descriptive.
  3. Requirements regarding netting, fencing and landscaping associated with outdoor game courts should be created.
  4. Lighting and landscaping associated with the courts should be addressed.
  5. Stormwater management elements should be protected during creation of outdoor courts.
  6. Zoning performance standards for noise and peace disturbances should be reinstated.

The size of 600 square feet was proposed as the determinant if an outdoor game court area will be subject to the city's guidelines. However, Wildwood's Planning and Zoning commissioners ultimately directed that all courts be subjected to regulations, regardless of their size.

Changes in regulations governing outdoor game courts were presented at Tuesday's Wildwood City Council meeting for the following seven areas:

Definition:  A hardscape or other surface used in connection with a flat game court structure for play that is somewhat removed from the single family dwelling located on a lot, so as not to be considered a driveway or patio, given that the area must meet all applicable setback requirements. The definition now includes game courts, tennis courts, hockey rinks, batting cages, racquetball/handball courts and other similar facilities. The courts may or may not include a combination of netting, fencing or boards.

Lighting:  Installation of lighting as part of any outdoor game court will be prohibited in all residential district zoned properties within Wildwood city boundaries. Lighting standards for non-urban zoned areas will not exceed 16 feet in height.

Public Safety:  Outdoor game courts will not be authorized without the proper netting, fencing and boarding, as determined by manufacturers' specifications. This element will not exceed 10 feet in height.

Landscaping:  Outdoor game courts will require landscaping in accordance to the city's Tree Manual and Sustainable Plantings Guide.

Stormwater Management:  All plans submitted for outdoor game courts shall indicate all in-place stormwater improvements and any easements that exist on the lot.

Siting:  No portion of outdoor game courts can be situated in the front yard of lots.

Review:  Any outdoor game court that exceeds 1,000 square feet is required to receive approval of its location on the lot from the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Commission.

Vujnich said the revisions to these outdoor game court regulations are, in no way, meant to prohibit such facilities. "The pre-existing set of regulations were just not sufficient, and the revisions are meant to enable them to be effectively placed in ways that they will do no harm to neighbors."


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