Smithfield planners urge approval of gym franchise

Smithfield’s Planning Commission gave a unanimously favorable recommendation on July 9 to a proposed gym franchise seeking to locate in the Smithfield Commons shopping center next to the McDonald’s on South Church Street.

Edmo Soares of Fit Body Boot Camp, a franchise with more than 200 locations across the United States, is seeking a special use permit to allow what town staff have classified as an “indoor commercial recreation facility” at 1807 South Church St.

The permit application states the gym would offer 30-minute workouts split into sessions from 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a coach and 20 clients on average per session, and two to five employees plus a general manager.

According to Smithfield Community Development and Planning Director Tammie Clary, a gym previously occupied the same tenant space within the shopping center, but did not have a special use permit.

The commissioners, in a separate vote, tabled Soares’ request for an entrance corridor overlay review, which is the sole jurisdiction of the Planning Commission and is triggered when a business seeks to locate within designated 500-foot-wide zones along each side of North and South Church streets, West Main Street, Benns Church Boulevard and Battery Park Road. The commissioners postponed their decision until Soares returns with renderings of the new signage that he proposes adding to the shopping center.

The special use permit application will next head to Smithfield’s Town Council for a final public hearing and vote.