A planned indoor pickleball center in St. Johns County, Florida, moved closer to reality after the county Planning and Zoning Agency gave unanimous support on June 26. The project will create a 7,000-square-foot building for indoor pickleball at 6480 U.S. 1 in the Rolling Hills Industrial Park.
Project Details and Site Information
The facility will include 25 parking spaces and operate every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. No outdoor games will be allowed. The plan also calls for rebuilding an existing stormwater pond to meet current design standards.
Property records show there are already three warehouse buildings on the 1.93-acre site. The land belongs to Mueller International Property Agents Corporation of St. Petersburg, which owns it through 2685 Rolling Hills LLC.
Neighbors and Engineering Team
Several businesses are located near the future pickleball site, including Kings Head British Pub, Bug Out Pest Control Services, Blingle Premier Lighting, and First Coast Medical & Dental Supply.
The Jacksonville-based Baker Design Group is the civil engineer for the project. The law firm Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC is representing the proposal.
Community Concerns
Three speakers shared concerns at the meeting, including worries about traffic, safety, and noise. One speaker described the players as the “pickle Mafia.”
The Planning and Zoning Agency does not make the final decision. It advises the Board of County Commissioners on zoning, land use, and development rules.
What Happens Next
The project will now go before the Board of County Commissioners at an upcoming meeting for a final vote. If approved, it will add to the 12 existing pickleball locations in St. Johns County. The closest current site is about three miles north at 625 Palencia Club Drive.
News in Brief: St. Johns County Pickleball Center Approval
St. Johns County leaders approved a special use permit for a 7,000-square-foot indoor pickleball center at 6480 U.S. 1. Neighbors voiced concerns over traffic and noise. The plan now heads to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval before construction can begin.
ALSO READ: Pickleball Craze Hits St. Johns: Why Everyone’s Trading Golf Clubs for Pickleball Paddles