Indoor sports training facility seeking to open in Plymouth Meeting

Max Power Sports is seeking zoning relief to open a sports training facility at 105 Lee Drive in Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Township). The application went before Plymouth Township’s Planning Agency on August 3rd. The zoning relief being sought involves impervious coverage and parking.

During the August 3rd meeting, a representative of Max Power Sports shared that the plan is to construct a 70,000-square-foot building with 116 parking spaces. The indoor facility would be used as a youth sports training facility that offers intensive instruction for volleyball, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, cheerleading, and badminton.

The facility would have eight courts that would be shared between volleyball and basketball. There would also be badminton courts, which could also be used for pickleball. In addition, there would be space for cheerleading and gymnastics. Finally, there would be a turf area for baseball that would be partitioned for specific types of training.

The business currently operates out of a 30,000-square-foot building in King of Prussia.

Members of the planning agency focused on questions about the parking in relation to how the facility’s use would flow throughout the day and during tournaments. During a regular day, the applicant felt the number of spaces was adequate due to the majority of parents dropping off kids and not staying. When discussing parking for tournaments, the applicant had not yet worked out a deal with the neighboring office building for use of its parking lot on nights or weekends when more parking may be needed.

A member of the planning agency asked the township’s zoning officer why Plymouth’s council had decided to not support the application during its Monday, August 1st meeting. The zoning officer shared that the council had been presented with a plan that didn’t have the necessary detail, and thus opposed it.

The members of the planning agency voted 3-0 to oppose the application. It was expressed that the use (type of business) wasn’t being opposed, but felt that the applicant needs to come back with the traffic study that is currently being conducted and an agreement with the office building to utilize its parking when tournaments are held.

The application can now provide what was requested and appear before the planning agency in the future to seek its recommendation. The final decision will be made by the zoning hearing board.

You can listen to the planning agency meeting below.