The Columbia County Planning Commission voted in favor of a proposed personal training gym on Columbian Industrial Boulevard in its first meeting of 2024 on Thursday.
Nicholas DeAngelo, of FX Spine & Performance Center in Evans, requested conditional use at 454 Columbia Industrial Blvd., aiming to establish a facility in one of the property’s 1,500 square foot warehouse spaces.
The gym would offer both one-on-one and group classes focusing on physical training, pain treatment and functional restoration.
“It’s kind of an extension of physical therapy,” explained DeAngelo to the commissioners. “A blend of … ‘go to the gym’ personal training, but guided to [the patient’s] condition.”
The parcel is split-zoned M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial, with most of the buildings developed for warehouse and office space. Planning staff noted in its report that the county approved two previous conditional uses at the property for a minor vehicle repair shop and a school of the arts.
The staff report also cited initial concerns about parking, and noted a comment by the fire marshal that the fire code requires neighboring gyms operating under approved conditional uses be limited to 49 or fewer occupants.
Staff acknowledged, however, that the training studio would serve no more than eight clients at one time. The Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of the request.
Warren Grove Baptist Church received a unanimous vote of recommendation for its expansion project in Grovetown.
The church submitted a rezoning request for its recently acquired four-acre property at 6001 Horizon West Parkway. There it aims to change from General Industrial to Special zoning, in order to add parking and new facilities to its Grovetown campus.
Thursday night’s meeting was the first of the newly appointed Planning Commissioner Mark Moody, taking the seat formerly held by Michael Carraway, who has gone on to seek the District 3 seat on the Board of Commissioners. Chairman Al Dempsey noted that the seat of Russell Wilder, who stepped down to run for the Georgia House of Representatives, would be filled by the next meeting.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
