The Ripon Planning Commission gave the nod on the major site request Monday for Ripon Christian High to construct on-campus six tennis.

One of the conditions of that approval was limiting future plans for court lighting to no later than 9 p.m.

The other part includes those associated with the project will continue to work with the neighbors in the area of the 400 and 500 blocks of North Wilma Avenue – they were in attendance to express their concerns, which ranged from traffic to privacy issues.

“Outside of the traffic, I think we addressed most of those issues,” said Chairman George Saljian.

Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart added that RC would also work with neighbors on determining the fencing and landscape on their backyards.

“RC has always been a good neighbor,” said one of the residents affected by the project.

The project calls for the tennis courts and parking lot to be located along 552, 564, and 570 N. Wilma Ave.

Two commercial driveways (no public access) would be installed along with 69 parking stalls (doubling as overflow parking for football and other big events), associated fencing around the tennis courts, a shaded courtyard area with tables, and an accessible pedestrian path that connects to the existing parking lot.

RC Superintendent Eric Segaar anticipates RC having about 15 to 20 tennis events – the school once had four tennis courts, which were taken out during the recent expansion of Maple Avenue. The Knights currently play their home matches at the City of Ripon facilities at the Community Center.

Segaar noted that RC is hoping to break ground possibly in the fall or next spring, depending on the fundraising efforts.

Civil engineer and RC parent Adam Merrill said that storm drainage will be kept on-site with no intent to elevate the area of tennis courts.

According to Zuidervaart, plans for the tennis complex calls for the demolition of two existing residential homes.

Four of the courts would be located to the north of home at 522 N. Wilma Ave., which is about 32 feet from side property line. The two other courts would be located directly behind the resident at 522 N. Wilma Ave., or about five feet from the rear property line.

The aforementioned court lights would be part of a later phase.

The lights would be about 18 to 20 feet in height, and “would be required to be shielded so that no direct glare will affect the adjacent residential land uses,” Zuidervaart said.