Despite assurances that Tucker’s controversial proposed pickleball court construction project is on hold for now, residents voiced their opposition to it at the Nov. 12 city council meeting.
During public comment, residents who live near the Tucker Recreation Center cited issues with potential flooding, property values, noise, and dissatisfaction about the lack of public input regarding its construction.
Before the meeting, Council member Cara Schroeder, standing in for Mayor Frank Auman, who was attending remotely, thanked people for attending the Nov. 7 informational meeting regarding a proposal to construct the 12-court pickleball court and said that the plan was not on that night’s agenda.
“The project is on pause right now,” Schroeder said.
However, a half-dozen people continued to voice their opposition to the project, saying that “on-hold” doesn’t mean the plan is dead. They urged city officials to consider the $3.25 million price tag, the effect of getting rid of one of the few remaining green spaces in the city, and the negative impact existing pickleball courts are having on surrounding neighbors.
In other action, Tucker City Engineer Ken Hildebrandt and city officials discussed a mandate made by Gwinnett County that DeKalb County reverse any sewer flows that are currently flowing into Gwinnett County and their treatment facilities.
“This requires DeKalb Watershed to construct sewer lift stations, force mains, and gravity sewer lines,” a memo regarding the project said.
The reversal process will impact some areas of Henderson Park, officials said, and require temporary and permanent easements.
The process will use “jack-and-bore” methods, which is a trenchless method of sewer construction that is suitable for installing short pipe runs.
The cost of the reversal will result in no financial impact to the city. DeKalb has offered $7,800 for an easement running through Henderson Park.
City staff said the project is in the design phase now with construction slated to start in 2026 and expected to take one to two years to complete.
The council also recognized the Friends of Tucker Parks, who received the Georgia Park and Recreation Association State Volunteer of the Year award.
“The relationship with the FOTP has grown into a flourishing collaboration between the [parks] department and this vital volunteer network,” a commentary about the award said. “They meet regularly to discuss the big picture along with bimonthly park clean ups, plantings, educational opportunities and volunteer in park planned events. The contributions are numerous and encompass many years of sweat, tears, and possibly a bit of blood at times.”
In other action, the council:
- Heard a presentation about the process for establishing guidelines for signage, gateway signage, landscaping standards, and streetscape standards in city-owned properties;
- Held a public hearing and deferred a vote on a Special Land Use Permit to allow for the conversion of a building at 4419 Cowan Road to multifamily housing;
- Held a first reading on an ordinance that would allow the city to increase ad valorem taxes on blighted commercial, industrial or abandoned residential properties and reduce ad valorem taxes on the above-mentioned properties that are being remediated.