Report to: General Committee                                               Report Date: December 10, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                         Unionville Winter Tennis Club in Carlton Park – Business Plan

PREPARED BY:               Allan Seabrooke, Commission Lead, Community & Fire Services, ext. 7522

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report titled “Unionville Winter Tennis Club in Carlton Park – Business Plan” be received;

 

AND THAT staff be authorized to proceed with a public consultation meeting with residents of the neighborhood, and other interested parties;

 

AND THAT staff report back to Council with the results of the public meeting with recommendations;

 

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to present a business plan that has been received for a Unionville Winter Tennis Club in Carlton Park and to obtain staff authorization to proceed with a public consultation.

 

BACKGROUND:

The existing Unionville Tennis Club (UTC) has been investigating the feasibility of building a winter tennis club since 2005.  The discussions arose as UTC was approached by a company who manufactures tennis domes in England.  The initial intent was for this company to place two domes over the nine courts and manage the facility and courts.  However, in 2006, these discussions ceased as the company determined it was no longer interested in pursuing this venture.

 

There still remained a strong interest from the UTC members to have a facility where tennis could be played during the winter months.  Ms. Heidi Strassguertl, a member of the club, agreed to continue investigation.

 

Staff were approached early in 2007 by the interested individuals and asked what the Town would require in terms of information to consider a proposal for the establishment of a winter facility at the UTC in Carlton Park.  The information requested has been provided and the individuals were advised that public consultation would then be required with residents surrounding Carlton Park and the immediate neighborhood.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The UTC business plan has been submitted to staff for consideration by two current members of the club, Mr. Costa Nicolaidis and Ms. Heidi Strassguertl.  The proposal is for a Unionville Winter Tennis Club to be run as a business entity through a privately held corporation.  This would not interfere with the volunteer-based community tennis club during the summer months and involves covering the nine courts with two winter domes for the winter months (October – April).  The capital costs for initial investment and operating costs, including annual installation and removal, are provided by this corporation.  Funds are not being requested from the Town of Markham for this initiative.

 

The proposal involves erecting two winter domes.  The first dome would cover five courts and the second dome four courts.  The domes consist of a pre-tailored polythene membrane that is anchored around the perimeter to a concrete foundation.  The first dome, covering five tennis courts, dimension is 260’x118’x36’.  The second dome covers four tennis courts and the dimension is 220’x118’x36’.

 

The Unionville Summer Tennis Club, which is located in Carlton Park, began in 1971 with two courts and now consists of nine courts (six hard & three clay), and a membership in 2007 of 1,310.  It is served by a single-storey clubhouse with a viewing area, kitchen, two washrooms and an office.  This is the largest community tennis club in Markham.  The executive members of the summer club support this proposal.  A number of supporting e-mails are contained in the attached proposal (Addendum A).

 

An initial meeting with Town staff generated a number of questions with respect to the proposal, which have been answered by Ms. Heidi Strassguertl.  The following is a brief summary of details pertaining to this proposal that will serve to provide further information to Council and answer potential questions at this time, prior to a public meeting.

 

Membership Details - The winter club membership will be open to all Markham residents and will operate the same as any private club would with booking priviledges only given to full-time members.  Non-members would only be allowed to play as guests of members, paying a guest fee in addition to their portion of the regular court fee.  The existing summer club is 85% from the Unionville area.

 

Parking - Parking for the summer courts is now provided with the adjacent Presbyterian church.  There is a legal agreement that has been in place since 1994 providing parking on the Church’s lot by the Town and the Town provides permission to the Church’s congregation to use the driveway to and from the parking area, which is Town land.  There are 85 parking spaces.  The winter tennis club would use 40 spaces at maximum.

 

Site Considerations & Impacts - The number of homes that back directly onto the tennis courts is 11 on Charington Crescent, 4 on Helmsley Crescent, 4 on Padget and 13 on Liebeck. 

 

There will be no material impact on the vegetation in the area as a result of erecting and taking down the two domes each year.  There are no changes or damage to any existing trees in the park and the grass that may have to be uprooted for a short pathway will be replaced by the Corporation.

 

The existing lights will need to be moved to the outside of the fence; lights inside the dome are not permanent and are taken down and stored each summer.  Costs associated with this are covered by the Corporation.  In addition, the domes would be placed on the inside of the existing fences and although they will be rolled up slightly for snow removal, they would be put back for the summer season.

 

Impacts on Existing Tennis Courts

At the present time there is a 50% cost of resurfacing that is borne by the summer club and 50% by the Town of Markham.  This arrangement would remain unchanged; however, the winter Corporation has agreed to share in the costs of repairs for maintenance work that may be incurred on an ongoing basis.

 

The manufacturer of the domes indicates that the domes will extend the life of the courts because the courts will be protected from extreme weather conditions.  With reduced exposure to cold winter conditions, there is a prevention of extreme expansion and contraction which decreases the likelihood of cracking.

 

Responsibilities of the Corporation

The Corporation will be responsible for ensuring that their insurance coverage is sufficient to cover the high costs of repairs that can occur from severe damages from a storm.

 

The Corporation will have adequate equity from the initial investment so that the Town can recover any costs incurred for removal of the structure in the event of the company ceasing operation.

 

The Corporation will be responsible for the snow removal of internal pathways to get to the clubhouse and courts.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The Unionville Winter Tennis Club Business Plan that is attached provides a proposed detailed balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and a schedule of membership and court fees.  Staff are in the process of reviewing the Financial Statements and are collecting additional financial information. Findings from the analysis will be provided in the next report to Council.

 

In effect, the capital funds for this project and all operating costs are provided by this privately held corporation.  Funds are not being requested from the Town of Markham for this initiative.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Financial Services

Operations Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

                            BY:    ________________________          ________________________

                                      Allan Seabrooke                                 Peter Loukes

                                      Commission Lead,                              Commission Lead,

                                      Community & Fire Services                Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Addendum A – Unionville Winter Tennis Club Business Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q:\Strategic Services\Members\Allan Seabrooke\Report - Unionville Tennis Club.doc