Mantua’s 6 A.M. Pool Hours Win County Approval As Fairfax City Hearing Awaits

FAIRFAX, VA — Fairfax County’s Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Wednesday to approve earlier swimming pool hours at Mantua Swim & Tennis Club, one day after the Fairfax City Council postponed its hearing on a related application.

The county’s approval on Wednesday morning allows pool activities from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, replacing a schedule that reserved separate periods for practices, lessons and general membership swimming.

The city’s public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2027. Although most of the club is in Fairfax County, portions of two tennis courts and the lap pool extend into the city, requiring approvals from both jurisdictions.

Three nearby residents opposed the proposal during public comment periods during Tuesday night's council meeting, citing noise, lighting and activity outside existing operating hours. No members of the public spoke during Wednesday’s county hearing.

County Approves More Flexible Pool Schedule

Club President Dan Smith told the county board that the request would simplify scheduling and allow programs such as masters swimming, practices and lessons earlier in the morning.

“Our permit divides the pool day into separate blocks for practice, lessons, and general swim,” Smith said. “We’re asking to replace them with one window, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The closing time doesn’t change.”

Smith said early activities would mostly involve small, structured groups. He also said younger families wanted the option of bringing children to the pool before noon, when general membership swimming can currently begin.

County planner Adriana Santiago told the BZA the application proposed no changes to the 600-family membership cap, construction, site layout, parking or lighting.

The county application did not change tennis hours, which already run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. under the county permit.

Updated conditions require after-hours events to end by 11 p.m., with cleanup permitted until midnight. Smith said the club accepted the conditions, including a 10 p.m. cutoff for amplified sound.

The board approved the application 7-0.

Noise Rules Remain In Effect

Board member Akida Rouzi questioned language in the conditions that she said could suggest the county noise ordinance applied only after hours.

“Noise ordinance has to be upheld all hours of the day,” Rouzi said.

Brent Krasner, with the county’s Department of Planning and Development, confirmed that the ordinance applies throughout the day, regardless of the permit’s wording.

Smith told the board the club accepted the conditions and was aware of the noise ordinance.

County staff recommended approval, describing the request as a relatively minor change that retained the existing closing time and membership limit.

City Hearing Postponed Over Notice Issues

At Tuesday’s Fairfax City Council meeting, Councilmember Stacy Hall moved to postpone the public hearing “to a date certain of January 12, 2027.” The council approved the delay unanimously.

County staff and Smith said Wednesday that advertising or notification problems prompted the city postponement. Krasner said county staff would provide the approved conditions to the city to help coordinate requirements across the jurisdictional boundary.

The city application seeks pool hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and tennis hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Existing city conditions allow tennis beginning at 7 a.m. and pool activities beginning at 7:30 a.m., with general membership swimming beginning at noon.

City staff recommended approval with conditions, including limits on outdoor after-hours events and loudspeaker use. The council has not acted on that recommendation.

Neighbors Raise Concerns At City Meeting

William Fort, a Preservation Drive resident, told the City Council that his home is about 150 to 200 feet from the lap pool and a similar distance from the nearest tennis court.

“Our problem with the swim club is and always has been noise,” Fort said. “It’s noise that interferes with our ability to enjoy our outside facilities.”

Fort said he and his wife had collected noise measurements over four summers and complained to the club and police. He also alleged that tennis courts were used outside permitted hours.

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“Would you be OK with being woken up at 6:00 in the morning by swimmers yelling and hooting while getting revved up for competition?” he asked council members.

Neighbor Lea Im also opposed the proposal, describing problems with lighting and activity near the courts.

“I really ask that this could be not passed at all,” she said.

Her husband, who did not state his name in the city transcript, described late-night noise and early-morning court use and urged the council to reject the request.

The city staff report said the city police department had no records of noise complaints or violations from the property. Staff also said qualifying community-pool noise is exempt under the city’s noise ordinance, while tennis court noise remains subject to its provisions.