When the local planning board ruled against granting a permit, 250 fitness fans mobilized into action. Hoping to sway the council their way, proponents have filed a petition asking for a town meeting to reverse the zoning restrictions keeping Cuves from the central business district.
According to the planning board, zoning restrictions do not allow health clubs to operate in the area because of parking concerns. Oddly though, a permit was recently issued for a rival women’s health club across the street. The lone planning board member voting against the Curves permit is a member of the rival gym.
But the fact that the Planning Board had previously approved HealthFit, a fitness facility for women and seniors, that is now located across the street from 70 Chestnut St., has produced some tension between the board and the applicants.
The rationale at the time was that HealthFit was not a true gym, but instead a facility where consumers would go to get one-on-one instruction.
Smart, who voted in favor of the plan, said he used the same rationale to vote in favor of Curves. “It was the same language we used to approve HealthFit,” Smart said, but added that he saw the situation as a close call.
