Grandview approves Agora KC pickleball permits amid sound concerns

The Grandview Board of Aldermen approved two conditional use permits on July 28 permitting the operation of an indoor/outdoor pickleball and fitness facility. Agora KC, led by founder and local pickleball enthusiast Ahmed Shalabi, plans to take over the former site of International House of Prayer-Kansas City’s Forerunner Church at the intersection of Blue Ridge and Grandview Roads.

Mayor Leonard Jones and city officials discussed plans and permits for Agora KC with founder Ahmed Shabali and Studio Build architect Chris Penland at Board sessions on July 7 and July 14. The team now has permission to operate indoor and outdoor pickleball courts with several wellness-related providers serving as tenants. That includes a 24/7 fitness center, a chiropractor, childcare, a healing center, mental health providers, a medical spa, physical therapy and more, Shalabi said. 

Agora KC plans to take over the addresses 12416 and 12418 Grandview Rd. The permits were approved in a unanimous vote with the exception of a vote from Ward 3 Alderman Rodney McDuffie II, who was not present. 

The outdoor courts are planned to be installed on a paved area behind the former Forerunner Church building, which is adjacent to the back of neighboring property owned by Martin City Melodrama. The longtime performing arts nonprofit, in its 42nd season, provides performance opportunities to children and adults with disabilities. This clientele often includes people with sensory sensitivities like those to sound, according to founder Jeanne Beechwood.

Approval of permits for Agora KC comes after several community members, mostly affiliated with arts nonprofit Martin City Melodrama, voiced concern over potential noise from the outdoor pickleball courts. Beechwood, multiple Martin City Melodrama board members, and other patrons emphasized the nonprofit’s importance to the community and possibility of a future sound problem. 

“All we are asking the city for is mitigation to make sure the sound is abated as this project with Agora KC goes forward,” Beechwood wrote to the Grandview Board of Aldermen and several city staff before the vote on July 28. “Please do the responsible thing for the entire Grandview community with sound mitigation in place.”

City staff also heard from direct support professional Morgan Ball, who works with people who have intellectual developmental disabilities. Ball spoke on behalf of their client Ryan, who has sound sensitivities and takes advantage of classes and performances by Martin City Melodrama. Ball specifically worries about “short hops,” a pickleball technique in which the paddle hits the ball immediately after it bounces off the court. 

“My biggest concern is how the noise level, particularly from short hops against paddles 35 feet from the theater, will trigger people with various diagnoses and decimate what has become a safe space for them,” Ball told the aldermen.

Although the conditional use permits passed without any specific sound abatement requirements, levels will still be enforced by Grandview’s own noise ordinance and by guidelines outlined in the conditional use permit, according to city staff.

Shalabi told the Telegraph that Agora KC and Martin City Melodrama have a shared vision for the arts. The pickleball enthusiast said he comes from a theater background and also works with people who have developmental disabilities and sensory sensitivities. He plans to abate the sound by installing acoustic panels, putting up fences and exploring landscaping options, he said.

Shalabi added that Agora KC and Martin City Melodrama could continue this shared vision going forward. That could include collaborations with the performing arts nonprofit to drive ticket sales, Shalabi said. He wants Agora KC to be a gathering place for the community, which is the English translation of the Greek word “Agora.” 

Mayor Jones ended public comment on July 28 by addressing the crowd, stating that even though Agora KC is a large development, it will have to follow the same rules as any other business in Grandview. That will include the noise ordinance, the mayor said. 

“If the noise levels are too high, they’re going to have a problem in the city,” Jones said. He went on to note, “It’s kind of hard to abate something when there’s nothing to abate. But once there’s a project, we can move forward to making sure that sound abatements are in place.”