HOWELL – A Howell resident has asked Township Council members how he should proceed with plans to open a business in the community.
During the council’s meeting on Jan. 22, Jemand Ezeonwuka, who owns Eze Fitness, described a zoning issue and asked for guidance. Ezeonwuka said he and his family recently moved to the Ramtown section of Howell.
“We are the owners of Eze Fitness Transformation Center and we saw the perfect place in Quail Creek (Plaza) and we want to open there. … We signed a contract and are building the facility, however, we got hit with a zoning issue,” Ezeonwuka said.
Mayor Theresa Berger said Ezeonwuka was not “hit with a zoning issue,” but acknowledged there is a zoning issue. Berger asked if the owners of the plaza know how their property is zoned.
Owner Michelle Rusinek said the zoning is Neighborhood Commercial and said retail use is permitted. She said that in the past, fitness businesses operated in the plaza. She said the plaza had also included a karate studio and a dance studio.
Rusinek said Eze Fitness “was kind of a natural fit.” She said the zoning issue came up about a week prior to the Jan. 22 council meeting.
Jim Herrman, Howell’s director of community development, said, “Unfortunately, I cannot speak to how the prior (fitness businesses) were actually allowed to be in there.” He said gyms are not an approved use in a Neighborhood Commercial zone.
“There were discussions of putting gyms in those (zones) in the past. One problem a prior council saw was big box gyms. Nobody wanted to see a very large, 25,000-square-foot gym in a small area like that.”
Herrman said there may be options to address the matter.
“We are currently looking to amend some of our zoning ordinances. I have spoken to some of the council members about that, we are going to be speaking to the Planning Board and looking into a master plan review which would potentially modify some zones around town (to) try to get more uses in certain zones.
“We could talk about that with our Planning Board planner and our Planning Board and see if they are interested in putting gyms in the Neighborhood Commercial zone, and if so, would they want to make it a permitted use or a conditional use which would put potential restrictions on that facility,” Herrman said.
Ezeonwuka said he offers small group training and personal training. He said the facility is not a big box gym and he said there would not be any outdoor uses associated with the business. The space under discussion is about 2,000 square feet.
Berger said any additional discussion of the matter should address the fitness center’s capacity and parking needs.
Councilman John Bonevich said the fears of the previous council were in regard to big box gyms. He said he could accept a fitness center in a Neighborhood Commercial zone if appropriate restrictions were put in place.
Rusinek asked if there is a short-term solution available so the fitness center can open as soon as possible, since a review of Howell’s master plan and other governmental actions could take months.
Herrman suggested seeking a temporary use permit from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. He said that would only be an option if the council members believe a master plan review and the subsequent process would go in the right direction, relative to allowing fitness centers in a Neighborhood Commercial zone.
“I would hate to give (the business) a temporary use permit to open for three months and then at the end of three months the Planning Board says the use is not consistent with the master plan,” Herrman said.
Ezeonwuka described his business as a small studio, with 10 people, and a maximum of 15, in group training. He reiterated that no training of any type would take place outside the business; no one would be flipping tires in the parking lot or running outside shirtless.
Councilman Thomas Russo said he would support an expedited review of the business.
“I know the nature of the gym business, I was in the gym business a while ago and I know you guys rely heavily on this time. January, February, March, those are your key months to get members. I want to see you do well. I understand exactly what kind of gym it is.
“Mr. Bonevich alluded to the restrictions he would be OK with. I would be OK with those restrictions as well. If you could get us something quickly, I do not think there is an issue with the council,” Russo said.
Herrman said the zoning board’s agenda is packed through April, but he said an effort could be made to hear Ezeonwuka’s application on an expedited basis, possibly in February.