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Planning board approves Pilates studio at 23 Center Street; occupancy and signage requirements noted
Summary
The Middletown Planning Board approved a special use permit and site plan for Pilates Oasis at 23 Center Street and clarified occupancy, sprinkler and signage requirements, and noted the applicant’s intent to create a nonprofit in the future.
Tyson (Tysan) Lerner and her partner received approval July 4 to open a Pilates and wellness studio, called Pilates Oasis, at 23 Center Street after planning staff said the building’s fire-safety systems and a recent site visit supported the proposed use.
Lerner said the studio will offer Pilates, fitness and mobility classes, health coaching, and some retail. She described dedicated “reformer” rooms (Pilates equipment) and an upstairs open space with private training capability. She also said she is considering converting her existing LLC to an S corporation for accounting and that a separate nonprofit may later seek grant funding to provide subsidized services to artists.
Building and fire inspector Michael Guattari told the board the building is fully sprinklered and has a fire alarm. He said occupancy capacity for classes will be set by the inspector and tied to the certificate of occupancy. The board noted that the property is in the DMU zoning district and that signage or exterior changes will require review by the Architectural Review Board.
At the hearing, staff said they had conducted a site visit and had no outstanding objections; planning staff and the inspector will remain in contact if the board approves. After public comment period produced no speakers, the board voted to approve the special use permit and site plan. Roll-call votes recorded in the transcript show: Mister Madden — yes; Mister Brito — yes; Miss Houston — yes; Mister Higbee — yes.
The board’s resolution requires the applicant to comply with occupancy limits set by the fire inspector and to appear before the Architectural Review Board for any exterior signage. Planning staff said further outreach will occur if the nonprofit later locates offices at the site, since that could be an expanded use requiring additional review.
