Planning commission unanimously recommends Burn Boot Camp conditional use permit at 250 Independence Drive

The Winchester Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend Conditional Use Permit 0524 for a Burn Boot Camp franchise at 250 Independence Drive, forwarding the application to the Board of Supervisors in October.

Staff told commissioners the property is a 3.72-acre site in the M1 zoning district and that the applicant requested indoor fitness and recreational sports center use. Staff said the maximum group size in the application was increased from 50 to 75, triggering requirements for a shared-parking agreement and hours-of-operation limits. Staff also removed a fixed childcare cap and said the building code and room size would govern child-watch capacity, while requiring a change-of-use permit from the building department and full compliance with review-agency comments.

Applicant Tori Furphy, the proposed franchisee, described Burn Boot Camp as a membership-based fitness program of 45-minute classes using a floating floor and light equipment. "Burn Boot Camp is far more than just a place to work out," Furphy said, describing the child-watch room as a central feature for families and saying the warehouse layout at 250 Independence Drive is well suited to the program.

Commissioners questioned operational details. One commissioner asked whether the facility would be a drop-in space; Furphy said it is membership-focused with roughly seven to eight scheduled "camp" sessions per day and that members pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to those sessions. Staff clarified that occupancy would be limited to 75 combined patrons and employees and that the child-watch staffing requirement is one adult per 10 children.

Commissioners debated the childcare condition’s wording. One commissioner proposed adding a numeric cap of 20 children and limiting care to patrons; the commission declined to add a fixed number but agreed to broaden the condition so child-watch services may serve both patrons and employees. The commission also discussed hours of operation given the industrial zoning and existing truck-warehouse uses on the site, and the applicant suggested future flexibility for early-morning weekday sessions.

An unidentified commissioner moved to approve CUP 0524 "with the additions and corrections as made by the Commission tonight," which was seconded. The commission recorded unanimous support—Brumbach, McKay, Molden, Markert, Thomas, Kearns, DeHaven, Triplett and the chair voted yes—and directed staff to forward the recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for an October meeting.

The commission’s action was a recommendation only; final approval rests with the Board of Supervisors. The zoning administrator must review and approve the required shared-parking agreement before operation, and any expansion or change of use will require a new conditional use permit.