By Laura Mecham

February 28, 2007 l HYDE PARK -- A new fitness club may be opening in the middle of a residential zone at 15 E. 100 North St.

Prospective club owners David VanNatter and Lynnette Russell came before the Hyde Park City Council at the meeting Wednesday, to present their business and building plan to the council. They proposed creating a commercial overlay zone, which will create a small commercial zone in the middle of a residential area.

The council approved a recommendation for a public hearing in order to get residents input and allow the Planning and Zoning Commission to go forward with the building and business planning.

Mayor David Kooyman said his main concern about the business is the number of people it may bring to the residential area.

"There isn’t any guarantee the business will be approved until the council comes to an actual vote," he said.

The vote cannot take place until the concerns of the residents of Hyde Park have been heard in the public hearing.

VanNatter and Russell said they want the fitness club to be a friendly and comfortable environment and something that will benefit the community. They said the club will hold a maximum of 50 members at one time, but they expect only 15 or 20 on average. They said the club will have a combination lock or card lock system, with 24-hour surveillance cameras so employees would not be required and members could come and go as they please.

“We’re not The Sports Academy size and that’s not what we’re going for,” VanNatter said.

Councilman Wheeler expressed concern about the safety of members without employees present.

VanNatter said they will provide commercial insurance, post rules and regulations and have the members sign waivers before joining the club, acknowledging liabilities they may face in working out alone.

VanNatter and Russell both live a few houses down the street from the proposed business location and said they want the area to remain as residential as possible. They said there are about 15 or 20 parking spaces around the building which will be available to members and will keep cars off the street. They said because it will be centrally located, they expect many members will either walk or ride a bike to the club.

The proposed business building was previously a grocery store and has not been in use for a few years. VanNatter and Russell said they are planning to restore and renovate the building.

“It’s an eyesore the way it is right now,” Russell said.

“Everything we would do to fix up the building would be done in taste,” VanNatter said.

The Planning and Zoning Committee will create an overlay plan and regulations for the business. Subsequently, the plans will be sent to the public hearing which will help determine if the business meets the standards for approval.

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