BAC updates okayed after pickleball discussion

By Dana Casadei

Multiple proposed site improvements to the Birmingham Athletic Club (BAC) were given a positive recommendation to move forward at the Bloomfield Township Planning Commission meeting on Monday, July 21, but not without a catch.

There are four major projects that the BAC proposed, and include rebuilding the existing service station hut for food service, extending the ground-level dining patio, rebuilding the existing tiki bar, and converting one tennis court in the most northeastern corner to four pickleball courts. Originally, they were proposing 12 courts but after much consideration took it down to four.

“I’m excited to be here because this is the product of two years of design work,” said Rick Rattner, attorney for the BAC. “What we have here is a minimum disruption and something that allows us to maintain and repair. There’s no increase in membership or operations. I hope we meet your approval and we can move to the zoning board of appeals.”

The design of these renovated spaces will fit in with the club’s current aesthetic, with the renovated service station hut using the same cedar siding as the other buildings, and proposed metal project-out awning windows.

Looking closer at the tiki hut, the materials are not listed on the site plans, but appear to have tile proposed.

Last but not least is the patio extension that will be consistent with what’s currently there, but will project 23 feet further towards the east.

Because the BAC, located at 4033 W. Maple Road, is an existing, non-conforming use, multiple variances will be needed to move forward with this project, with which the planning commission seemed to have no issues.

One of the variances focused on the pickleball courts, where they are requesting a variance for an eight foot high fencing that would include a sound barrier material to help with any noise and soften the sound from the court.

The courts will have a black acoustic fence material to provide a sound barrier, and the material will hang from the court’s protective fence. This is the side of the courts that will face the club’s neighbors to the south.

A sound study was submitted by an acoustic engineer, who worked with the township’s consultant, and found that the proposed design and courts will meet Bloomfield Township standards at the property line.

“I think that the current proposal for the pickleball courts in the northeast corner of Maple and Oak is thoughtful,” said Neal Barnett, planning commission member and Bloomfield Township Trustee. “I think it’s very thoughtful with the mitigation of the noise… think that will be very helpful.”

One item of note that led to discussion among the board was the pickleball courts lighting.

No new lights are proposed for the courts but because of the timers used on the courts current lights, which can stay on as late as 11 p.m., the planning commission added an amendment to the motion for positive recommendation that pickleball be played no later than dusk.

There was some controversy about current playing of pickleball on the existing paddleball courts at the BAC. This issue of pickleball being played on non-approved courts at the BAC came up during the meeting’s public comment section. A neighbor to the BAC raised concerns to the planning commission about people currently playing pickleball on the paddleball courts, noting how loud it is and close to their home.

“I’m not going to approve this unless you agree to stop playing pickleball in a non-approved area,” Barnett said. “It’s not going to be a positive recommendation of this body if they’ll allow pickleball on that court to continue.”

Given that this was never approved by the township, or presented to the township, there was immediate outrage from the planning commission about this discovery.

“If pickleball is being played on paddleball, that’s a problem, right next to those homes,” said chairman Thomas Petinga. “Can we specify that that is not done?”

The planning commission asked those who spoke from BAC if that was possible; and after some clear hesitation, Derek Jacques, BAC general manager, said that they could eliminate pickleball on those courts immediately.

These proposed changes will now go on the zoning board of appeals and then, if all goes well, the board of trustees.

The planners’ recommendation was approved 6-0, with planning commission member John Kelly absent from the meeting.