ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Tensions rose at a St. Johns County Planning and Zoning meeting this week as opponents raised concerns about what one speaker dubbed the “Pickle Mafia” during discussions about a proposed indoor facility along US 1 North.
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The project team is seeking a Special Use permit to build a private membership pickleball facility within the Rolling Hills Industrial Park, but not everyone supports bringing the rapidly growing sport to the area.
Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport for four years in a row, according to USA Pickleball, driving demand for more playing spaces. However, this particular proposal has met resistance from neighboring businesses concerned about safety and parking.
Several business owners detailed how large trucks navigate the industrial park, loading and unloading, saying the additional traffic may create safety hazards for others.
Other detractors expressed concerns over the potential impact to business operations if their parking were to be taken over by pickleball players.
During public comments, one opponent took the criticism a step further, saying, “With the Pickle Mafia... where it’s at it becomes their ground and they start taking it up and taking it over. It does and it will.”
The proposal calls for:
- Four courts split between two buildings
- One existing building and a new 7,000-square-foot warehouse
- Operating hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- 30 parking spots
- Private membership focus rather than tournaments or public space
Brad Wester, representing the law firm Driver McAfee Hawthorne & Diebenow, strongly rejected the negative characterizations during the meeting.
“We will and we do plan to self-proffer signage, so all pickleball patrons will only park in our parking lot,” Wester said. “[One commenter] said ‘You all know the record.’ I guess there’s some track record with pickle ball and how nasty it is. I think it is disingenuous. I think it’s derogatory. I think it’s pure conjecture and clamoring.”
Despite the controversy, the Planning and Zoning Agency approved the plan unanimously. The approval came with conditions to add signage to potentially prevent overflow parking.
Next, the project will be presented to the county commission for final approval.
