As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
TENNIS COURT
Any area on the ground upon which a game using a net between
opposing players, a ball and racquets is played, and includes any
adjacent fencing, walls, screening or other material which may limit
the movement of or confine the ball or serve to conceal the court.
No tennis court shall be built or maintained on any plot or
parcel of land in the Village of Belle Terre except in compliance
with the provisions of this chapter.
No tennis court may be constructed or maintained except as an
accessory to an existing one-family dwelling located on the same lot.
No tennis court shall be built or maintained in a front yard
or side yard or within 20 feet of the rear lot line.
Every tennis court shall be surrounded by a chain-link fence,
which shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the following
specifications so long as the tennis court remains in existence:
A. Height. The height shall be not less than 10 feet nor more than 12
feet above the playing surface. However, where the longer dimension
of the court faces a dwelling on the same lot, the center 40 feet
of fence along the side of the court facing the dwelling may be less
than 10 feet in height or eliminated completely.
B. Fabric. The fabric shall be not less than nine-gauge steel having
a uniform square mesh with two inches between parallel sides. The
mesh shall have a green, brown or black plastic coating.
C. End and corner posts. The end and corner posts shall be 2 1/2
inches inside diameter galvanized pipe with a wall thickness of 0.203
of an inch, securely embedded in concrete.
D. Line posts. The line posts shall be two inches inside diameter galvanized
pipe with a wall thickness of 0.154 of an inch, securely embedded
in concrete.
E. Horizontal lines. There shall be three horizontal rails running between
the vertical posts situated at the top center and bottom of the chain-link
fabric. These rails shall be 1 1/4 inches inside diameter galvanized
pipe having a wall thickness of 0.14 of an inch.
F. Distance between posts. The distance between posts shall be not more
than 10 feet.
All tennis courts shall be completely screened from adjoining
properties by coniferous trees which shall be at least eight feet
in height when planted and shall be planted five feet on center on
all sides of the court not facing the dwelling on the same lot, between
the fence surrounding the tennis court or the elevated court and the
lot lines of the lot on which the court is located. The coniferous
trees shall be Canadian hemlock, or an alternate approved by the Building
Inspector, and shall be maintained so long as the tennis court or
elevated court remains in existence.
The height of the playing surface of any tennis court shall
not be above the existing mean level of the ground immediately surrounding
the tennis court area prior to the construction of the tennis court.
No tennis court shall be altered, maintained or constructed
so as to cause or permit any drainage water to flow into adjacent
properties or public streets.
No tennis court will be permitted to be illuminated for playing
by any form of artificial lighting.
[Amended 5-18-1993 by L.L. No. 1-1993]
No tennis court may be used after sunset or before 8:00 a.m.
Building permits and certificates of occupancy for tennis courts
must be obtained from the Building Inspector, and all applicants for
permits to construct or alter tennis courts shall supply with their
application the following:
A. A topographic plot plan, showing existing structures and the proposed
tennis court, indicating whether the court is new or an alteration
to an existing court, and showing all areas and distances between
edges of the tennis court and the nearest property line.
B. A drainage impact notation, indicating what effect the construction
will have on existing drainage, including the direction of flow and
the provision for drainage.
C. A landscape plan, illustrating adequate screening of the tennis court from visual observation from neighboring property and showing proposed planting of evergreen trees or shrubs as set forth in §
149-6 hereof.
The violation of any provision of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine not exceeding $250 or by imprisonment for not more than
15 days, or both.