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Wendell board approves special-use permit to move Expressions of Worship dance studio to 31 N. Main
Summary
The Wendell Town Board voted 5-0 to grant a special-use permit allowing Expressions of Worship to convert the former bakery at 31 N. Main St. into a multi-room dance studio and retail space, subject to building permits and a maintained parking agreement.
The Wendell Town Board of Commissioners on March 3 granted a special-use permit to Expressions of Worship 2 LLC to relocate and expand its dance and martial-arts studio into the two-story building at 31 North Main Street, approving the measure 5-0 with conditions that all applicable building permits be obtained and that a parking agreement be maintained.
The hearing was conducted as a quasi-judicial proceeding. Town counsel explained the board must base its decision on the evidence presented at the hearing: "This is a ... quasi judicial proceeding, which means it's a due process hearing ... It's based entirely on the evidence that's presented," the town attorney said during the opening remarks.
Staff told the board the applicant plans to upfit the approximately 5,500-square-foot building (most recently a bakery) into three rooms on the ground floor—a retail-facing dance space and two classrooms—and two large rooms on the second floor, plus added restrooms. The applicant submitted a parking-and-drop-off plan and a parking agreement with Agave to count off-street spaces; staff noted the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) permits a dance studio in the downtown mixed-use (DMX) district with a special-use permit.
Rob Lee, the applicant, described structural and foundation work planned for the building: "Our plan is to completely remove the floor ... we will be digging out to the subgrade ... and then laying the required code inches of concrete," Lee said, adding the upstairs would be supported by a steel beam down the center of the building.
Dozens of residents — many identifying themselves as current or former students or parents of students at Expressions of Worship — spoke in favor of the move during the evidentiary hearing. Speakers said concentrating classes downtown would increase foot traffic and help nearby businesses. "By having class downtown every week multiple times a week Wendell businesses are much more likely to have my patronage," one resident said.
Board members questioned staff about required building- and fire-code improvements and the parking plan. Staff said converting upper-level storage to classrooms will require building permits and fire review and that the UDO parking requirement for the building is 11 spaces; two on-street spaces in front can count and the applicant provided a parking agreement to satisfy the remainder. One commissioner asked for a condition that any change to the parking agreement be reported to staff and updated as necessary.
A motion to grant the permit passed 5-0. The board attached two conditions: that all applicable building permits, laws and codes be obtained or maintained before occupancy and that the parking agreement be maintained.
The applicant said the current studio locations at 32 North Main Street and two churches would consolidate into the new site once construction is completed. The applicant also said 32 North Main would be made available for rent after the move.
The board closed the public hearing and moved on to other business after the vote.
