Residents clash with county staff over proposed Team Unleashed youth athletic club; final vote set for March 30

The St. Charles County Council heard extensive public testimony on March 9 over a conditional use permit request to convert a former church and gym at County Club Road into a private youth athletic club operated by Team Unleashed, with the council scheduling a final vote for March 30.

Planning and Zoning Division Director Robert Myers told the council the application (Bill 5471, CUP 25-13) would repurpose a three-acre parcel and that county staff recommended denial, consistent with the Planning & Zoning Commission’s 2–4 vote against the request. Myers noted that the site includes a 48-space parking lot and a gym built in 2023, and that land‑use compatibility and intensity of proposed use were central staff concerns.

The applicant and property representative described the proposal as a limited, youth-focused program. The operator, identified in the transcript as Sean Singleton, said the club would prioritize structured training for children aged about 8–14, use staggered session schedules to avoid concentrated arrivals and departures, and limit outdoor activity. “We’re not gonna have rival teams coming in,” Singleton said, adding the intent is to hold internal scrimmages and controlled practices rather than large tournaments. He also said the organization is a nonprofit and pledged to comply with fire marshal occupancy limits and with routine inspections.

Supporters — parents, veterans, coaches and young athletes — told the council the facility provides mentorship, stability and scarce gym access for local teams. Parent Christine Kamen said Team Unleashed offers consistent adult mentors and “turns idle time into formation time,” and several youth speakers described how the gym supported school‑age athletes’ development.

Opponents raised traffic, parking, noise, enforcement and compatibility concerns. Neighbors worried that 48 on‑site spaces would be insufficient during some events and that overflow parking could block narrow residential streets; they also noted the property is surrounded by the City of St. Charles on three sides. Several speakers pointed to prior compliance issues at the site under a previous owner and urged caution because “CUPs run with the land,” meaning restrictions travel with future owners. Resident Denise Mitchell said the staff report identified potential problems around traffic, noise, lighting and the practical enforceability of membership and usage conditions.

Planning staff and several neighbors also asked the council to consider whether the conditions attached to a CUP in this location could realistically be enforced over time. The applicant responded that membership logs, on‑site staff roles and camera systems would be used for oversight and that the organization would accept reasonable conditions.

The council closed the public hearing and set a final vote on the conditional use permit for March 30. No formal council decision was made at the March 9 meeting.

If approved, the permit would carry with the property and apply to future owners unless the council or subsequent procedure changed it; if denied the applicant would need to consider alternative sites or uses. The council did not vote on CUP 25‑13 on March 9 and indicated it will allow members to express their positions and then vote at the next scheduled meeting.