WMG Volume 6 • Issue 11 June 5, 2019
Wilton Manors Gazette Facebook.com/groups/WMGazette
community
Challenge Fitness 'Challenged' Again Activist fails to persuade Commission
By Sallie James A noisy gym that’s been operating complained to the city about lighting for more than a year without a business issues, drainage problems and noise from tax receipt — despite complaints from the Pride Center property for the past neighbors — got another pass last month year. The plat originally designated the from the city. City commissioners voted 3-2 on May current land use as industrial. The 28 to approve a revision to a previously changes designate 60,000 square feet of OK’d plat (map for the site) amendment, community (30,000 square feet of existing paving the way for Challenge Fitness to and 30,000 square feet of proposed); 4,000 square feet of office; 6,000 square legally obtain a business tax receipt. The property at 2040 N. Dixie Highway feet of commercial; and 48 mid-rise is the future home of a nearly $15 million, units and accessory residential uses. 48-unit LGBT-friendly affordable housing The city approved the plat amendment last year but had to revisit project for seniors to it last month due to minor be built by Carrfour language changes requested Supportive Housing Inc. by the county. The gym is located on The plat amendment property owned by the now makes it legal for the Pride Center. noisy business to continue “The current retail operation. occupant, a violation Commissioners Paul Rolli of the current plat and Gary Resnick voted “no.” restriction, and “I am very concerned we unlicensed, has been are going to be expanding a nuisance since its the ability for the uses of inception. The Pride this property that are going Center has refused - Paul Rolli to be inconsistent with to intervene in this Commissioner the residential units next nuisance,” neighbor door and create more of a Matt Dreger, president of the nearby Townhomes of Riverside nuisance to them,” said Resnick, who Homeowners Association, told the also suggested delaying the vote. “I have Commission. “After 13 months and absolutely no evidence that they are nearly $7,000 costs to the city, the only willing to comply with our code so I’m not compromise was how much noise can we in favor of supporting this today.” Commissioner Julie Carson stand.” Dreger implored commissioners to sympathized with Dreger but voted for delay their vote without success. He has the plat revision anyway.
“The real issue is we don’t have a landlord or property owner that commands the tenants.”
Photo via Challenge Fitness, Facebook.
“Part of my difficulty is balancing what business tax receipt. “The real issue is we don’t have a landlord or our ordinances say and what we are required to do and also making sure we preserve the property owner that commands the tenants. integrity of the neighborhood,” Carson said. The Pride Center is a community center She assured Dreger his concerns did not “fall and their business is to provide community services,” Rolli said. “It seems to be they are on deaf ears.” Dreger is also upset because the project more in the real estate business than providing proposed by Carrfour routs stormwater community services. They are leasing out across the Homeowners Association’s land. x their land to build affordable housing, they The easement agreement does not allow flow lease a lot of their office space. So are we in the from any new drainage infrastructure on the real estate business or in community services? adjacent property through the Association’s My concern is about the future. Is that going to property and they are unwilling to revise the be an impact on the neighborhood?” Dreger expressed similar sentiments. agreement so far out of fear additional water “This property is supposed to be the gay and flow will cause flooding issues. The Pride Center has no plans to upgrade its lesbian community center, not a multi-rental money grab for the Pride Center,” Dreger stormwater system, Dreger said. Rolli said the issue is much bigger than noted. “The Pride Center has not conducted concern over a business operating without a business with a good neighbor policy.” WMG
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