A new exercise facility will open on Main Street in Santa Monica utilizing advanced stacked-parking after being scrutinized for parking congestion issues.
The Santa Monica Planning Commission moved forward with the proposal for 220 Fitness, the almost 3,500 square foot facility located at 3002 Main Street that will incorporate memberships with physical therapy services. The large glass building hosts one of the stacked-parking options where vehicles are lifted and positioned on top of one another to save space.
Owner Matteo Baker has worked in the fitness industry for more than 16 years, boasting nine years alone at the Gold’s Gym in Venice. Baker said the gym plans to serve locals, many of whom will be walking and biking to the location. He explained that memberships were currently being recruited according to permit allowances.
The inside space will offer open-planning and an entire workout facility on the ground floor, with spacious windows that allow viewing inside and out. The group campaigned for the possibility to propose changes at a later date to the floor plans. The outside will be renovated, but kept intact.
The medical component includes services including physical rehabilitation or other health-related needs provided by qualified physical therapists, certified nutritionists, and trained kinesiologists, according to the City staff report.
Thanks to zoning requirements, the site needed 15 parking spaces leaving the applicant scrambling for viable options for seven missing spots. Baker and representatives wanted to offer valet parking to individuals in order to create tandem parking in the lot. The City did not support offsite parking.
The property is developed without any options for increased parking. The innovative stacked-parking system will allow four spaces for employee use, but are restricted parking spots reminiscent of a vending machine.
Commissioner Ted Winterer pushed for the free valet option, but warned that a free parking option may distract from the proposed transportation demand management program that focused on alternative transportation options. Commissioner Hank Koning countered that customers should be required to pay for valet. Commissioner Jim Ries seconded the need to encourage all members and facility users to search for alternatives.
The facility will offer free public transit for staff to help alleviate parking crunches. The staff agreed a offsite parking option wouldn’t be needed if valet services were available.
Johnson applauded Newbold and Perry for examining the conditions put on permits that are notoriously not followed-up on, unless the Commission puts a compliance condition to require these additions to be reviewed during business permit renewals.
