March 14, 2019
The Clarkson Valley Planning and Zoning Commission, pursuant to notices published in the Legal Ledger on February 26th and February 27th, the West Newsmagazine on Wednesday, March 6th, the bulletin board, the City’s website and letters were mailed to residents living within 500′ of the proposal on February 26th, met at City Hall on Thursday, March 14, 2019 in the Clarkson Executive Center, third floor Presentation Room at 15933 Clayton Road to consider one agenda item and to make a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen.
Planning and Zoning Commission Members present:
Anne Grabner, Chairperson
Honora Schiller, Alderperson, Ward 2
Steve Benz
Gregg Bogosian
Karl Hussey
John Cloute was not able to attend and there is a vacancy on this Board.
The City Attorney, Patrick Butler, attended and the City Clerk, Michele McMahon, took Minutes.
The Chairperson opened the meeting, introduced the Commission Members and gave the floor to representatives of Forest Hills Country Club (FHCC). Eric Verhulst, President of the Board, introduced himself and explained the great extent to which the club is renovating their facilities. The General Manager, Kevin Donvan, was present with a half dozen easels displaying the various projects the club is currently undergoing. One of the areas being renovated is the Tennis Chalet/Tennis Court area and we are here tonight to discuss this.
The City’s code prohibits certain fence materials; chain link being one of those not allowed. The code also prohibits fences over 6′ in height. They described their necessity for some form of variance from our code in order to allow this. They further explained the City’s fence code did not come along until 1994, but the club’s existing tennis courts and fences were constructed years before that. The two existing asphalt courts and two clay courts along with their fences are in disrepair and need to be resurfaced and new fences added. Additionally, they would like to add two more post tensioned concrete courts to the two asphalt that already exist (for a total of four post tensioned courts). The two existing clay courts will be reconstructed in the same area they are now with Har-Tru surface.
Several Commission Members had questions regarding the landscaping and Scott Reynolds, the club’s grounds manager, answered those. Other questions regarded a more detailed description of the two types of courts; the necessity for maintenance and upkeep of the fencing and wind screen; irrigation system screened by landscaping; standing water in the bio detention basin; and lights.
There were approximately 60 people in the audience most of whom spoke on the nature of the remodeling and its value to the community along with the important role the club plays in the neighborhood. The tennis coach, Kyle O’Leary, was present and there were many members reigning praise of him and the tennis program offered by FHCC.
Those residents, most affected by the tennis courts wanted more landscaping than what was promised, especially around the east side of the court and the club agreed to this request. The other contingency clauses the Commission Members wanted written into any agreement sponsored by the Board of Aldermen regarded the removal of the fence(s) should the club determine members are not utilizing the courts, the agreement is for tennis only and not Pickleball; and, last, there will be no lights on the court;
Chairperson Grabner asked Commission Members whether to give an affirmative recommendation to the Board of Aldermen at the April 2nd meeting, or a recommendation not to approve the chain link fencing, to which all five Commission Members responded affirmatively.
The Commission Members thanked those residents and club members for attending and invited everyone to consider attending the April 2nd Aldermanic Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele McMahon
City of Clarkson Valley