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Pure Gym seeks 24/7 operations; commissioners raise safety and parking concerns
Summary
Representatives from Pure Gym asked the board to consider amending local rules to permit 24/7 gym access under defined conditions; company reps described controlled access and remote CCTV monitoring, while commissioners and the public expressed concerns about overnight staffing, safety, parking near senior housing and hygiene; no decision was made.
Representatives from Pure Gym — attorney Ashley Bridal Lehi (Blank Rome), operations director Steve Collins and Josh Rodriguez, senior manager of loss prevention — presented a proposal to permit gyms to operate 24 hours daily subject to defined operational and safety standards, and asked the board to consider amending Chapter 538 to add gyms to an exception list.
Pure Gym officials said their model uses controlled access pods with QR‑code entry, remote CCTV monitoring and emergency help points tied to a central operations center; Collins said overnight use averaged about eight visits per hour at comparable sites and the company estimated approximately 3,500 total members with a small overnight usage percentage. Rodriguez described remote monitoring procedures and an emergency action plan, and he said the chain had experienced one overnight emergency call in several months of 24/7 operations elsewhere.
Commissioners and the town’s public‑safety director raised questions about the need for overnight access in Nutley, potential disturbance to adjacent senior housing, how emergency responders would gain access without staff on site, hygiene and cleaning during unstaffed hours, and whether cameras and remote operators are adequate for timely response. Director of public safety questioned whether relying on remote CCTV and a phone number posted at the door was sufficient for EMS and police access.
Pure Gym said staffing overnight would be a “deal breaker” for the low‑cost membership model and that overnight staffing would change the economics of their plan. Commissioners said they will review the proposal, may request a site tour and the company’s emergency action plan, and will perform due diligence before considering an amendment or a formal application; no vote was taken.
The board did not adopt changes at the July 7 meeting. Officials asked Pure Gym to provide additional operational and membership data and offered to schedule follow‑up discussions with public‑safety staff.
