Peekskill council approves special permit and zoning changes to allow health clubs in downtown district

The Peekskill Common Council on Feb. 24 adopted zoning text amendments and issued a special permit that will allow health clubs in the C1 zoning district and create a special-permit path in the C2 district. Council voted unanimously to adopt local law number 2 of 2025 amending city code definitions and permitting rules.

Council also approved Resolution J-11 to issue a five-year special permit for a health club at 1101 Main Street. The planning director presented a set of amendments and conditions the council incorporated into the resolution, including: implementation of the applicant's security plan; revocation authority for noncompliance; automatic reconsideration before council after two emergency-service calls within a 30-day period during unstaffed hours; a requirement that the applicant respond to emergency service issues within 30 minutes; possible cost recovery for non-life-safety emergency responses after two calls in 30 days at the city-approved rate; on-site staff at least six days per week for a minimum of 12 hours per day; and a required report to the council after the first six months of operation documenting police, EMS and fire calls.

Planning staff explained the six-month review begins when the facility's Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) indicates it is up and operating so the council can assess actual operational conditions. Councilmembers debated whether six or nine months would be a better initial review period but favored six months from C of O. As the planning director said: "This is a 5 year special permit. After 6 months, they're intended to come in and provide this kind of an update so that we could adjust conditions if we find them." The resolution was adopted as amended and will be certified by the clerk's office.