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Portsmouth zoners approve plan for personal fitness center

Bullfrog Fit is located in ‘Food Works Plaza’

By Jim McGaw
Posted 5/29/20

PORTSMOUTH — A personal fitness center has taken over a former dentist’s office in the “Food Works Plaza” at the foot of Quaker Hill on East Main Road. 

Owner Jeremiah …

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Portsmouth zoners approve plan for personal fitness center

Bullfrog Fit is located in ‘Food Works Plaza’

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — A personal fitness center has taken over a former dentist’s office in the “Food Works Plaza” at the foot of Quaker Hill on East Main Road. 

Owner Jeremiah O’Connor’s application to operate his Bullfrog Fit Performance Center in Unit 4 of 2477 East Main Road was approved unanimously at a specially scheduled Zoning Board of Review meeting on Thursday night, May 28. The application was originally set to be discussed on May 21, but the board ran out of time and had to re-schedule the hearing.

Although the proposed fitness center did not need a variance from the zoning board, every commercial proposal within the Town Center district requires a special-use permit under the zoning ordinance. 

During the virtual meeting, Mr. O’Connor, represented by attorney Matthew Chappell, told the board he’s been operating his business since 2015 out of Peak Fitness in the Portsmouth Business Park on Highpoint Avenue.

The new location would be for just his small group of clientele. The business won’t resemble a large gym, where people come and go they please, he said.

Instead, a group of four or five personal trainers will work with clients, with roughly 10 to 12 people in the unit at any given time, said Mr. O’Connor, who lives in Newport.

“Everyone is one on one, or two on one,” he said. “It’s by appointment only.” 

His business would be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., he told the board.

Mr. Chappell said there is plenty of parking onsite to accommodate the new business. Under the ordinance, there needs to be at least one space for every 200 square feet of gross leasable area. The unit is 2,288 square feet in size, which means 11.4 spaces are required.

“This is where the dentist office used to be. A dentist office requires about the same amount of parking — 11.1,” he said. 

Besides, this unit has additional parking away from the spaces out front, he said. “This particular unit has a separate parking lot of its own, if you look in the northeast corner … a total of 16 spaces,” said Mr. Chappell, adding there’s never been a lack of parking spaces in the area.

“This lot is probably one of the most successful plaza lots the town has,” he said.

Mr. O’Connor said his business would be compatible with the surrounding area and the plaza, which also houses another fitness center next door, a children’s play area, and a veterinary service. 

Nothing would be added to the exterior or the overall footprint of the building, nor would noise, smoke, odor or lighting be a problem, he said. The business would contribute to the community atmosphere and be compatible with a traditional town center, Mr. O’Connor said.

No objections

Although 27 abutters to the property were notified of the hearing, not one commented either for or against the petition Thursday night. The board did receive a letter of support from one of the property owners, Scott Polselli, also an owner of FoodWorks restaurant, just south of the building.

“I am in full support of the petition,” Mr. Poselli stated in the letter. 

The zoning board’s vice chairman, John Borden, noted that plans for the business made reference to a massage area in the downstairs area. He asked whether that activity would be subcontracted out.

Mr. Chappell said no. There will be tables there, but mostly for stretching and quick rubdowns before or after workouts, he said. No private massage therapists will be used, Mr. Chappell said.

There will also be two showers installed in the two bathrooms, although most clients will go home to shower, the attorney said. The septic system for the business will have no problems with handling the capacity, he added.

The board voted 5-0 to approve the proposal. 

“This fitness center is not going to cause any objectionable features and it’s compatible with surrounding properties,” Mr. Borden said.

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