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Planning commission approves Planet Fitness conditional-use permit 4–1
Summary
The Santa Paula Planning Commission voted 4–1 to approve a conditional-use permit allowing Planet Fitness to occupy 568B West Main Street, after public comment from local gym owners and residents who warned the chain could undercut small businesses.
The Santa Paula Planning Commission voted 4–1 on Oct. 15 to adopt staff’s recommendation and approve Conditional Use Permit 2024CUPO1 to allow Planet Fitness to operate at 568B West Main Street within the Santa Paula Shopping Center.
Chair Dunkel moved to approve the resolution (read into the record as resolution number 36803861) and Commissioner Herbert seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Vice Chair Kelly dissenting and the remaining four commissioners voting yes.
The staff report described tenant improvements to an existing 24,573-square-foot building with 14,777 square feet dedicated to open gym area and standard Planet Fitness amenities. Miss Arroyo, the project planner, told the commission the project is consistent with the General Plan and zoning and is exempt from CEQA as an existing facilities project.
Public commenters—including several local gym owners—urged the commission to deny the permit, saying the chain’s low-cost, high-volume model could harm independent operators. Vanessa White, who identified herself as a former local gym owner, said the chain “will probably put every small gym owner out of business here.”
The Planet Fitness franchisee, Baseline Fitness MV, replied that the intent is not to displace local businesses. The applicant said the club expects to staff locally and to contribute to community programs, adding: “Our intent is never to come into a market and put anybody out of business.”
Commissioners said they took public concerns seriously but noted the CUP is location-specific and that the property has been vacant since Big Lots closed. Staff emphasized that a denial would require specific findings showing one of the required conditional-use findings is not met.
The planning commission’s approval allows Planet Fitness to proceed with conditions of approval and future permitting steps required by the city. The applicant will next work through building permits and site-adaptation items identified by staff.
