Apex Padel Club is seeking zoning relief to open at 1300 Virginia Drive in Fort Washington (Upper Dublin). The indoor club would feature four padel courts and four pickleball courts, a small lounge, and a shower area. The hearing is scheduled for April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the township building.

Apex is proposing to build a new building in a portion of a parking lot that serves two office buildings (1300 and 1301 Virginia Drive). In the zoning application, the parking lot is stated to be only 35% occupied on average. Peak times for the padel club and the office buildings are also stated not to overlap.

While a padel facility is permitted within the zoning district, the reduction in available parking requires zoning relief. Variances are also sought for impervious coverage and setbacks. The property is zoned GFW- Greater Fort Washington.

The specific relief sought is as follows:

• Variances for parking from Section 255-136 to authorize shared parking between 1300 and 1301 Virginia Drive and from Section 255-136.C to allow for a 25% reduction in the parking required.
  • If that variance is not granted, the applicant requests a variance from Section 255-135.C(5)(a) to allow for 313 parking spaces at 1301 Virginia where 416 spaces is required and a variance from section 255-294.D to allow 279 spaces at 1300 Virginia Drive where 437 spaces is required.
• The applicant is also requesting dimensional variances from Section 255-293.B(2) to allow 70.13% impervious coverage where the maximum allowed is 60%, from Section 255-294.A(2) to allow legally nonconforming off-street parking on 1301 Virginia to become part of 1300 Virginia, a variance from Section 255-294.A(3) to allow for a 0 foot side yard setback for off-street parking between 1300 and 1301 Virginia Drive and from Section 255-293.A(3)(a) to allow for a front yard setback of 49.33 feet from Susquehanna Road, where the minimum allowed is 60 feet.
• In addition, the Applicant requests any other relief and/or approvals determined to be necessary to afford the requested relief and allow the proposed development.

You can find the full agenda here.