Council approves land‑use and zoning change for racquet club site, keeps language to limit excessive third‑party fees

The Fredericksburg City Council voted to approve a land‑use change and rezoning for approximately 8.91 acres at the Friendship Lane/Highway 87 corridor to allow a racquet club project and associated public facilities.

City staff presented the dual request — a land‑use amendment from medium‑density residential to public/semi‑public and a rezoning from R‑1 single‑family to Public Facilities — and noted both items were recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Clifford Cross, director of development services, explained the city is a partner in the application and that additional site‑plan details would return to P&Z for administrative review.

An area resident who signed up to speak asked the council to ensure daily free public access to park facilities and to guard against a privatized, membership‑only arrangement. Council members pressed the applicant and staff about where park access points and trails would be located; staff and the applicant responded the proposed site plan includes a trail around the city’s detention area to the east and primary park access from Sunrise Street with another access from Friendship Lane.

Councilmember questions about the detention pond’s potential to be a water feature drew a staff response that groundwater and drainage constraints limit modification of the regional detention facility and that it should remain as designed. Andrea (staff) confirmed the park as currently proposed would be on the development tract toward Sunrise Street and the trail would be around the top of the detention basin.

Council voted to approve the land‑use ordinance and the zoning ordinance separately. Before finalizing the zoning approval, the council asked about the agreement language addressing public access. Staff confirmed the agreement prohibits charging unconscionable or exorbitant fees to third parties for use of the premises or equipment and uses wording similar to the city’s existing soccer agreement.

The approvals permit the applicant to proceed to detailed site‑plan review and administrative civil review; the city will continue to review final design and access details through the normal development review committee and Planning & Zoning processes.