The Needham Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 30 amended the clubs special permit (originally issued July 16, 2020) to modify seasonal opening and evening operation for the Needham Platform Tennis Club operating at 1545 Central Ave.

Attorney Michael Crow, representing the Needham Pool & Racquet Club and tenant Needham Platform Tennis Club, said the platform tennis group opened in October 2021 and now serves roughly 150 members with about 125 on a wait list. Barry Nektow, president of the platform tennis club, told the board that league matches commonly start in the evening and can run past 10 p.m., making it difficult to complete scheduled league play under the current closing time. "If you start at 9 or thereabouts and your match goes an hour and 15 minutes, an hour and a half, you can't finish your match by the time we have to shut the lights off," Nektow said.

Neighbors voiced concern. Catherine McCarthy, who lives at 1509 Central Ave., said she did not object to earlier opening but opposed later closing hours: "Extending operations would exacerbate existing issues related to noise, traffic, light pollution," she said, urging the board to preserve the current 10 p.m. closing time.

Board compromise and conditions: after deliberation the ZBA amended the special permit to (1) change the seasonal opening date from Oct. 1 to Sept. 15, (2) set the court play end time at 10:30 p.m. with court lights on a timer to switch off automatically at 10:30 p.m., and (3) require that all persons be off the property and all lights extinguished by 11:00 p.m. The board also required that the temporary porta‑potty and hand‑wash station be maintained and winterized per the Board of Health and Building Department recommendations. The motion included the condition that the club install automatic timing for the court lights.

Why it matters: the platform tennis club cited league scheduling, high demand for court time and a large wait list as the reason for the expanded hours and earlier season start. Abutters emphasized noise and light impacts in a residential area and urged the board to deny a later night hour. The boards compromise added a half‑hour of court play plus a 30‑minute clear‑out window and included a requirement for a timer to limit light spillage.

Vote and next steps: the board voted to approve the amendments with the stated conditions; the motion passed unanimously. The decision requires the club to operate the porta‑potty per Board of Health guidance and to install a timer for court lights; the board recorded the amended decision at the hearing and noted departments on the record had no outstanding objections on other operational issues.