Commission backs proposed Radical Wrestling and Boxing gym at 633 E. Chicago St.; neighbor voices parking, noise concerns

The Elgin Planning and Zoning Commission voted Aug. 4, 2025, to recommend that City Council approve petition 21-25, a conditional-use request to establish a wrestling and boxing gym at 633 East Chicago Street.

City planner Ford Demir told the commission the single-story commercial building is about 2,400 square feet with a 16-space parking lot and two full-access driveways, one on East Chicago Street and one on Preston Avenue. Under the zoning formula of one parking space per four students, the site could support up to 60 students; the applicant agreed to limit sessions to no more than 25 students to avoid on-street parking overflow. Staff recommended approval of the request subject to conditions in the staff packet.

Applicant Gerardo Pina, who said he is a teacher at Larkin High School and an assistant varsity wrestling coach, described the gym as a club under the business name Radical Wrestling and Boxing. Pina said participants would carry membership cards with USA Wrestling or USA Boxing to meet competition insurance requirements and described the programming as sessions or “camps” that run from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the school year and generally from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday during summer months. "All members wishing to participate... have to be members of the USA Boxing and USA Wrestling Associations, which provide, secondary health insurance," Pina said.

Neighbor Berkeley Mapes, of 641 East Chicago Street, told the commission that a prior fitness business at the address operated irregular hours, generated noise and frequent street parking that blocked driveways and delayed garbage collection. "There was a lot of cars parked on the street, music, all hours of the night," Mapes said, and he urged commissioners to consider neighborhood impacts.

Pina responded that school-year hours would begin after his workday, meaning no early-morning operations during the academic year, and that he would work with neighbors to minimize impacts during summer sessions. He also said the applicant will make minor interior improvements, including ADA upgrades to restrooms, and convert some asphalt to green space with additional landscaping to improve the site.

The commission moved and voted to recommend approval; the roll-call vote recorded five yes votes and no no votes. Demir noted that if on-street parking or nuisance issues recur, residents can request a city parking and traffic evaluation through the city's 311 process, and the city enforces a daytime/nighttime noise limit under the city code.

Why it matters: the approval would allow a neighborhood-scale physical fitness facility that targets youth and local participants. The commission and staff sought to balance the gym’s community benefits with neighborhood parking and nuisance concerns by approving enrollment limits and requiring site improvements.

Key details: - Address: 633 East Chicago Street; existing building ~2,400 sq. ft.; 16 on-site parking spaces. - Zoning: RB (Residence Business) district; area surrounded by residential properties. - Applicant/operator: Gerardo Pina (Radical Wrestling and Boxing LLC, DBA Radical Wrestling). - Program: sessions/camps for wrestling (ages ~5–18) and boxing (ages ~8–18); applicant commits to no more than 25 students per session. - Hours: school year 3 p.m.–8 p.m.; summer sessions generally 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Friday. - Site changes: ADA restroom upgrades, conversion of an asphalt area to green space, additional landscaping. - Commission action: recommended approval to City Council, vote 5-0.

Next steps: The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action. Staff advised residents to request a parking/traffic evaluation via the city 311 process if neighborhood parking or safety problems appear.