Commission approves conditional use permit for Create Healthy Wellness Center expansion, with parking covenant requirement

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit under section 6.11(o) to permit the expansion of an existing legal nonconforming use at 1026 South State Highway 16 — Create Healthy Wellness Center — and granted site‑plan/entry‑corridor approval for a roughly 49,471‑square‑foot addition and renovation.

Dawn Bourgeois, director of Create Healthy Wellness Center, outlined the project’s motivation: the existing 30‑year‑old aquatic facility has reached the end of its useful life, membership has grown more than 300% since a 2023 renovation, and a full renovation alone would cost an estimated $4 million with limited long‑term benefit. The submitted scheme replaces and enlarges the aquatic area, adds fitness and locker facilities, creates a gym/sport court in the repurposed space, and provides an indoor walking/running track.

Staff explained the property spans two underlying zoning districts (front C2 commercial, rear public facilities) and that the expansion would extend a legal nonconforming use. The city ordinance allows a conditional use permit to authorize an expansion of nonconforming uses outside residential districts, which is why the CUP was required. Staff reviewed site‑plan and entry‑corridor criteria and recommended approval subject to standard Development Review Committee (DRC) conditions: civil construction plan approval, detention and utilities location, public sidewalk along West Windcrest, confirmation of setbacks and recording a parking covenant for off‑site parking to assure long‑term dedicated parking availability.

Commissioners raised parking and pedestrian‑safety questions. Staff and the applicant said the center uses three parking areas — the front lot, a small side lot and the off‑site Reuben Street parking area — and that a Zoning Board of Appeals‑granted parking variance had been issued earlier; the commission made the recorded off‑site parking covenant a condition of the CUP so dedicated parking is guaranteed as part of the land‑use approval.

The commission approved the CUP and site‑plan/entry‑corridor application; staff will require standard civil plans, identification of any proposed detention, utility connections and a recorded parking covenant as part of building permit and land‑use implementation.