The Tiburon Town Council has upheld a Planning Commission decision allowing extended pickleball hours at the Tiburon Peninsula Club.
Tiburon resident Eric Pifer filed the appeal on behalf of a neighborhood group called Save our Serenity. Citing noise, the appellant also asked that the council ban pickleball at the club altogether.
The council voted 2-1 on Wednesday to deny the appeal. Mayor Jon Welner voted no, Councilmember Alice Fredericks recused herself and Councilmember Holli Thier was absent.
In 2023, the town allowed the club on Mar West Street to convert an overflow parking area to four pickleball courts. As part of the application, the club submitted a noise study that showed the courts would fall within the town’s noise standards.
The Planning Commission approved the application with limited hours to address noise concerns. Commissioners also requested that the club install noise mitigation measures.
Previously, the club was permitted to offer pickleball from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. No pickleball was allowed on Mondays.
Matt Hart, a board member for the club, said the club has spent $165,000 on noise mitigation infrastructure. Another sound study reviewed by the commission last year showed that additional noise mitigation infrastructure had further reduced the pickleball sounds.
“TPC has approached the process with the commitment of being a good neighbor,” Hart said.
At that point, the commission encouraged the club to come back with the request for expanded hours of play, said Kristin Teiche, a town planner.
In March, the commission approved the club’s request for seasonally extended hours to allow for more play during daylight and to allow play on Mondays. The latest pickleball would be allowed on a given day, depending on the day of the week and the season, would be 6:30 p.m.
Pifer appealed, arguing that an inaccurate California Environmental Quality Act exemption was granted; that approval was incorrect in assessing impacts to public welfare and nearby properties; that the extended hours would impact real estate values; that neighborhood concerns were not adequately considered; that the sound study was misleading and mitigation efforts were not sufficient; that there are alternative pickleball courts available; and that there were conflicts of interest on the commission.
Town staff recommended the council uphold the commission’s decision. Along with comments from representatives from the club and Pifer, the town received numerous comments both in favor and against from residents living near the club.
Proponents said the noise was well mitigated for surrounding homeowners; that limiting pickleball would lead to limits on other noisy sports; and that working people had a right to play after business hours.
“I don’t have a lot of time during the day to enjoy this town,” Robert Chang said. “Since pickleball and since the extended hours, I’ve met new friends and been able to experience a wider community than I previously have.”
Those opposed said the noise was impacting their daily lives, mental health and property values.
“TPC over the last four years, I would say, has really affected the quality of life,” Michelle Kelley Fogelman said. “I was always talking about how beautifully quiet it was where we lived. Well, it’s not that way anymore.”
Councilmember Jack Ryan said that while he agreed that “pickleball is unpleasant,” he respects the commission’s decision on the extended hours. Welner said that he typically wants to honor the commission’s decisions, but he was particularly compelled by the opposition.
Staff are expected to return to the council with a resolution to deny the appeal at the next council meeting.