Pleasanton homeowners who want a backyard pickleball, tennis, basketball or bocce court could soon face citywide rules on where it goes, how tall the fencing can be and when the lights go off, under a proposal going to the Planning Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonCA.city reported.
Why it matters: A city staff report says the current code doesn't specifically cover private courts, which has led to conflicts between neighbors when they're built.
What's proposed
Home courts often come with tall fences, rebound walls and lights that can bring noise and privacy problems, the Pleasanton Weekly reported. The changes would set objective design standards and send new courts through the city's design review process.
According to PleasantonCA.city's summary of the staff report:
- Courts would generally go in rear or interior side yards, at least 10 feet from side and rear property lines, or 15 feet when a neighbor's home is within 30 feet of the line.
- Fences could be up to 15 feet, or 20 feet with design review approval. Rebound walls would be capped at 10 feet high and 20 feet long.
- Lights could be no taller than 20 feet, and play and lighting would be limited to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Commercial use and amplified sound would be banned.
Courts that were already approved could stay under their existing permits.
Gas station canopies, too
Commissioners will also review rules for canopy signs, lighting and corporate branding at gas stations, drive-throughs and other sites. The draft would ban internally lit box signs and glowing color bands on canopy faces, PleasantonCA.city reported.
Staff recommends sending both packages to the City Council. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 200 Old Bernal Ave.