Apple Valley council approves 24-hour conditional use permit for Snap Fitness at 15115 Dove Trail

The Apple Valley City Council on July 24 adopted a resolution approving a conditional use permit to allow 24-hour operation of a Snap Fitness health and fitness facility at 15115 Dove Trail, a commercial parcel abutting residential property within Planned Development (PD) 629 Zone 4. The council voted to approve the permit after staff and the planning commission outlined conditions intended to limit impacts on the neighboring houses. "Tonight, I will be presenting to you the request for conditional use permit for extended hours of operation of a Snap Fitness facility," city planner Sydney said during the presentation. The planning commission recommended approval by a 5–1 vote, subject to conditions that deliveries and loading occur only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., that nonessential exterior lighting be turned off at 10:30 p.m. and may be turned back on at 6 a.m., that the facility operate 24-hour surveillance and emergency alert systems, and that the CUP be revocable if terms are violated. PD 629 Zone 4 includes commercial properties adjacent to residential parcels, and staff noted that the zoning text prohibits operations within 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. for projects within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned property unless a CUP is granted. Staff described the site screening and existing lighting: there is a six-foot privacy fence, additional treated-wood fencing, and landscaping on the homeowners association property between the residences and the Snap Fitness parcel. "All exterior lighting is existing. It is not changing," Sydney said, adding that parking-lot fixtures are downcast and positioned so no light is cast west toward the residential properties. Council members asked how the conditions would affect safety and late-night use. The applicant said the typical early-morning patron count is about "25 on on average plus or minus 5, and it's usually the the crowd that are starting their their shift at 4 or 5 a.m.; so between about 1 and 03:30, almost none." Council Member Bergman moved to adopt the resolution; Council Member Melander seconded, and the motion carried. The council and staff said revocation of the CUP would require returning to council with findings and following the revocation process. The resolution adopted by the council implements the planning commission's added lighting-off time of 10:30 p.m. and specifies a 6 a.m. reactivation time for nonessential exterior lighting, among the other conditions.