Planning Commission will discuss plans for Lodi tennis club

The Lodi Planning Commission will discuss the future development of the recently closed Twin Arbors Tennis Club on Cochran Road during Wednesday’s meeting at Carnegie Forum.

Spare Time Clubs, which operated Twin Arbors before selling the tennis site and two other local fitness clubs, listed the property for sale in November. The properties on Lockeford Street and Hutchins Street were purchased by local owners and will remain fitness clubs.

“We are receptive to buyers looking to buy the property and maintain it as a tennis club, but we have not had any potential buyers,” said Spare Time Clubs President and CEO Larry Gilzean, who is now looking into having the property developed for homes.

“There have been developers that have expressed interest in the property, which is why we’ve pursued it in this capacity,” said Gilzean.

Despite the connection and nostalgia that the club might invoke in the community — it was established in 1972 and has served generations of Lodians — the property does meet the city’s residential zoning that would allow Gilzean to sell the property to developers looking to build single-family homes.

“The request to develop a low-density residential subdivision is consistent with city regulations, and does not violate any city ordinances or zoning laws,” Lodi Senior Planner Craig Hoffman said.

Gilzean announced the closure of the clubs late last year.

“It was no longer feasible to maintain and operate three different facilities in Lodi because there was too much competition,” Gilzean said.

Although members of the community see the value of maintaining the property as an athletic club, there have been no potential buyers to this point.

People in the community have asked the city to purchase the property and convert it into a public pool, Hoffman said, but Lodi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Jeff Hood said that is not an option.

“We currently have three aquatic facilities, Lodi Lake, Blakely Park, and Hutchins Street Square, and the Parks Department is not looking into purchasing another pool,” Hood said.

A point of contention for many in the community is what the next step will be if the property is sold to developers.

The current plans that have been drafted and sent to the city are consistent with the low-density residential parameters, and adhere to city regulations, Hoffman said.