By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT — After withdrawing an application to build outdoor pickleball courts that sparked neighbor complaints last year, the Fairfield County Hunt Club has regrouped with a proposal for an indoor racquets sport facility.

The Conservation Commission on Wednesday, following a public hearing, unanimously approved the application for the new facility, as well as improvements to an existing outdoor riding area, at the club, 174 Long Lots Road.

The proposed construction is within the upland review area setbacks. The application has yet to be considered by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Neighbors had raised concerns about the hunt club’s original plan for two outdoor pickleball during several, sometimes contentious, Planning and Zoning Commission hearings in October 2023. In the aftermath, the club withdrew its application.

Indoor courts for pickleball — the increasingly popular, but noisy, sport — were recommended by some neighbors who opposed the outdoor location, said Aris Stalis, of Aris Land Studio, as he described the club’s new proposal to the commission. 

The new 23,000-square-foot facility would be built at the site of an existing horse-riding ring that is rarely used, according to Stalis. There would also be an additional nine parking spaces. Other locations on the property were considered for the new facility, but those areas had more downsides, such as within setbacks, Aris said.

The new building, which the club describes as having tennis and racquetball courts, would be on the southwestern corner of the club’s property, which totals 39 acres. Also on the property are: a clubhouse building, various horse stables and riding paddocks, a polo field, a pool with pool house, and open lawn and wooded areas.

Two new drainage infiltration systems will be installed as part of the project to mitigate additional run-off caused by the construction. Plantings of perennials, including native sedum, are proposed to provide screening.

As part of their approval, commission members required that the hunt club establish a “no-mow zone” on a slope between the new building and wetlands on the property. Under the special condition, the club must work with town staff to submit a plan for planting on the slope and its maintenance.

Conservation Commission member Brian Whiting recused himself from the hearing and vote because of a personal conflict.

Kerri Williams is a freelance writer.