Fernie City Council has directed staff to work with the Pickleball Fernie Association to find an alternate site for new courts after residents raised noise concerns about a proposed location near Max Turyk.
During Tuesday’s (Nov. 10) council meeting, representatives from the Pickleball Fernie Association, city staff, and area neighbours presented their perspectives on the proposed site.
Residents living near Max Turyk argued the courts would be too close to residential properties, creating “disruptive noise” levels.
Terri Doka, president of the Pickleball Fernie Association, presented alongside city staff to explain why the site was selected.
She noted it was the best available option and said the association intended to place the courts as far from homes as possible—at 340 feet—while installing 10 acoustic sound barriers.
Jeremy Johnston, the city’s director of planning and development services, recommended the site to council, noting it is already zoned and planned for recreational use and was primarily chosen for its “flat surface.”
“It is an adequate area that is currently mostly flat and easy and low-cost to develop,” said Johnston.
Johnston acknowledged residents’ concerns regarding noise, traffic, and neighbourhood compatibility, adding that placing the courts roughly 125 metres from existing homes with purpose-built noise baffles would help mitigate those issues.
Council debated the effectiveness of the sound barriers at length. Councillor Tracey Audia Kelly questioned whether sound would travel over the “fence height” and enter nearby windows and upper-storey buildings. Johnston offered to conduct further research into noise barrier effectiveness if directed by council.
Johnston also addressed an alternative site at James White Park, another existing recreational area.
He noted that staff had concerns about uneven terrain, root systems, flood risks, and the need for significant tree removal, explaining that while the ground “appears flat,” an on-site inspection showed it is not “as flat as it seems.”
Despite staff’s recommendation, council members remained hesitant about moving forward with the Max Turyk site.
“As the neighbourhood has made clear, it’s going to be an ongoing point of contention, and that’s going to be conflict down the line,” said Councillor Scott Tibballs.
Mayor Harshan Ramadass expressed support for senior recreation as a valuable community amenity but emphasized the need to find a location that works for everyone.
“I have sufficient confidence that any noise-mitigating measure put in place will work out over a period of time,” Mayor Ramadass said.
“However, at this point in time, as Councillor Audia Kelly mentioned, I feel like there are a lot of unanswered questions.
“I mean none of us are an audio expert here or a sound scientist. But I feel like there is a little bit more work to be done before coming to the council and proposing a site.”
Council ultimately voted unanimously to direct staff to collaborate with the association to identify an alternative location.
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