Zoning board approves fourth court, kitchen addition

Zoning Board · Meeting of August 20, 2026

NEEDHAM — The Needham Zoning Board of Appeals approved a fourth paddle tennis court and a membership increase to 200 at the Needham Pool and Racket Club and Needham Platform Tennis Club. The board voted unanimously, conditioning approval on no further increase in the number of courts and a second ADA-accessible portable toilet. Club representative Mike Crowe said the club has "a huge backlog of members on the wait list," while abutter John McCarthy asked "where are we going to draw the line?" citing late-night noise and lights near his home.

Abutter Tim Sullivan cited a "25 percent" expansion of playing area paired with a one-third membership increase as excessive for the residential district. The board also approved a kitchen-expansion special permit at 8 Pennywell Street and continued a contested accessory dwelling unit case at 20 Manson Road to September 17 over an abutter attorney's objection.

In the full story:

• Minutes and Opening
• 8 Pennywell Street: Kitchen Expansion Special Permit
• 20 Manson Road: ADU Finding, Continued
• 1545 Central Avenue: Fourth Paddle Court and Membership Increase
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,268 words

Source: the Zoning Board meeting of August 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.