The highly emotional battle surrounding the construction of a 12-court pickleball complex at the Tucker Recreation Center took a hard left turn, as one council member accused another of addressing opponents’ concerns in a demeaning manner.
Alexis Weaver, at the end of the Feb. 24 Tucker City Council meeting, said she was surprised by a fellow council member’s tone while addressing the people who oppose its construction.
During her remarks, Weaver did not mention the person by name, but after the meeting, confirmed to Rough Draft Atlanta that she was referring to statements made by Amy Trocchi, who spent more than 20 minutes speaking about the issue.
“I’m so sorry you [the opposition] would be so talked down to by these people,” Weaver said, adding that she felt affected residents “were intentionally excluded from decisions that were being made.”
Her remarks were greeted by hearty applause from about 50 attendees, most of whom appeared to be against the complex’s construction.
Weaver’s remarks came after council member Trocchi, point by point, refuted some of the statements that have been voiced by public speakers who are opposed to its construction. She also asked residents to become more educated about the city beyond projects they oppose and said she believes pickleball is needed and necessary.
Trocchi, whose district includes the affected areas, said she supports the construction of pickleball courts for a less-served community – active older adults – but asked if city staff could research the costs involved with building the complex at Henderson Park instead.
Trocchi also apologized to Morgan Road residents for not incorporating their input earlier in the process, and forcing the group to advocate for themselves in an adversarial mannner.
At the Feb. 24 meeting, Tucker Parks and Recreation Director Rip Robertson recapped the timeline for the proposed courts, which had been under discussion for several years.
The construction cost is one that detractors say would be a huge expenditure for an amenity that few Tucker residents want. In addition, residents on nearby Morgan Road, some of whose houses are close to the park, say the noise of play and traffic congestion will reduce their home values and their quality of life, and have threatened to initiate litigation against the city if the plan goes forward.
Mayor Frank Auman said he believes that the concerns brought by project opponents – including traffic congestion, costs, and noise – have been addressed adequately, but emphasized that the project is still in the discussion phase.
As per established protocol at the city’s second meeting of the month, no public comment was allowed, but the 50 or so attendees at the meeting muttered amongst themselves during Robertson’s presentation.
At one point, Auman was forced to bang his gavel for silence while Robertson was discussing the proposed scope of the project and its budget.
The $3 million price tag includes improvements to TRC’s parking lot, which would widen the entrance and add 40 more slots to the already-existing 97. Sound-proofing the courts as recommended by a consultant Tucker engaged, could add another $50,000 to the bottom line.
Robertson also discussed the possibility of restricting open hours or mandating the use of soft paddles or balls during certain times.
Four existing outdoor pickleball courts, which are located at Rosenfeld Park, are open until 9 p.m., Robertson said, but council member Vinh Nguyan said several of those courts are deteriorating and sometimes unplayable.
The indoor courts at TRC that are used for pickleball are time-restricted because they are also used for youth sports and other recreational purposes, Robertson said.
During a question-and-answer period between Robertson and the council, several members touched on the about specifics on the project, including how much has been allocated for stormwater retention, the court construction and lighting.
Virginia Rece asked if the scope of the project could be reduced, and whether or not other measures could be taken to address the raised concerns.
I think that continuing to look at ways that show the community that we are listening would go a long way,” Rece said.
After the meeting, several members of the group opposing the complex said they applauded the fact that the council may be amenable to exploring other locations, including Henderson Park.
Shelia Daniel, a 23-year Morgan Road resident, said she was encouraged that ”another location is being considered.”
Other residents said they were glad that the council broached such subjects as reducing the scope of the project or mandating noise-mitigation solutions.
In other action, the council voted 6-1 to opt out of a floating tax exemption that has been offered to municipalities under House Bill 581.
Mayor Frank Auman said he would be voting against opting out, but “has no real strong feelings about it.”
The council also:
- Approved on its consent agenda a revised contract for the Lake Erin Dam construction contract;
- Heard a preview about potential upcoming agenda items, including some zoning changes and financial reports;
- Promoted events surrounding Tucker Restaurant, which runs from Feb. 25 to March 2;
- Reviewed the final version of the city standard guideline book.