Planning commission backs referral to allow yoga, personal‑service uses at 507 Hot Meadow Street

The Simsbury Planning Commission voted unanimously to send a positive referral to the Zoning Commission for ZC 26‑10, a text-amendment application that would permit personal-service uses, including yoga and other fitness studios, in the town's Professional Office (PO) zone.

Staff urged the change as a targeted update to a restrictive district that currently allows only a narrow set of uses. "Professional office is by far our most restrictive zoning category," a planning staff member said, noting the district includes about five parcels townwide and that expanding permitted uses could help fill vacant space in the changing office market.

Applicant Winnie Lou, who said she is under contract to buy 507 Hot Meadow Street and expects to close in early June, told the commission she plans to open her medical practice at the site and also operate a yoga studio "as a therapeutic compliment" to her practice. "The yoga activities would be mostly after hours…there's not gonna be any loud music — it's yoga," Lou said.

Commissioners asked whether rezoning to a B district would be preferable; staff said rezoning would be a more complex, separate process because the parcel is surrounded on three sides by residential neighborhoods. After discussion, a commissioner moved and another seconded a recommendation that Section 4.5 be amended to permit personal-service uses in PO; the motion carried without opposition.

The referral will go to the Zoning Commission for a public hearing and final action. The commission's advisory recommendation cites consistency with economic-development policies in the town's Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), which encourages a diversity of goods and services and fiscal benefits for the community.

Next steps: the Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the text amendment; staff said they will forward the Planning Commission's findings to Zoning.