Ocoee city commissioners approve pickleball facility

It took some back and forth, but Ocoee city commissioners unanimously approved plans for a new pickleball complex.

The City Commission approved the preliminary site plan for Vasant Sports LLC’s 6.08-acre complex, Tuesday, Sept. 16, to be located at 1100, 1050 and 1000 Jacob Nathan Blvd. The plan features 25 indoor courts, one outdoor court and three main buildings. 

One building will be two stories and will house indoor courts, a restaurant and a pro shop. A second building will include more indoor courts, while the final building will be a two-story banquet hall. The facility also will have an outdoor championship court.

“We want to make this facility the best facility in the country, providing the best experience for athletes to play pickleball,” said Sravan Tummala, a Vasant Sports representative. 

The approved site plan is a revised version of the complex’s original proposal from May 7, 2024. That plan included 44 courts — 24 outdoors. Ocoee’s Development Review Committee raised concerns about parking spaces and other issues, and ultimately, the commission denied the project.

The new plan reduces the number of courts by 18, addresses the parking ratio problem and creates two access points for emergency response.

Vasant Sports plans on hosting large-scale tournaments, which will increase the revenue brought into Ocoee, Tummala said. Building the project is estimated to take 15 to 18 months, and the noise levels have been tested so they won’t be a disturbance to residents.

District 1 Commissioner Scott Kennedy said he hopes the project is successful and believes it will help to reduce the demand for the outdoor pickleball courts in Tiger Park, which have caused noise complaints by residents. 

FOREST LAKE GOLF CLUB

Commissioners also unanimously approved moving forward with the short list of interviews for candidates for the lease and operation of Forest Lake Golf Club. 

“As I read the six proposals, I didn’t really like any of them,” Kennedy said. 

He said he saw good aspects and flaws in all but noticed fatal flaws in some. 

Other commissioners shared Kennedy’s assessment. However, they elected to move forward with interviews under five conditions: a one-page revenue share analysis; bank letter with proof of funds; five-year capital improvement plan; golf business growth plan; and a food and beverage plan. 

The commission is giving each of the three companies 30 days to prepare for the interviews, and Mayor Rusty Johnson said the city will restart the process if they’re unhappy with responses. 

IN OTHER NEWS 

•  Testing of the Christmas lights is almost complete and they are set to go up well before Thanksgiving, City Manager Craig Shadrix said. The city is building in time for Duke Energy to test the lights for any problems, as well. The heights of the lights will be made uniform and not zig-zag, like they have been in the past. 
• Community members expressed concerns with the noise levels the pickleball courts have caused Tiger Park. The commission discussed changing the hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Mayor Pro Tem Rosemary Wilsen advocated for adding something to close the gates of the park after hours.