Fitness center planned at East Brook Mall
The Mansfield planning and zoning commission accepted an application for a special permit to put a fitness center in the East Brook Mall at its Dec. 23 meeting. The plan was submitted by the Glastonbury-based Cardio Express. The application was referred to town planning and zoning staff for review.
Residents will have a chance to weigh-in on the topic at a public hearing scheduled for Jan. 19 in the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building. Although the hearing is scheduled for one meeting, it could take more time, said Jessie Shea of Mansfield’s planning and zoning office.
According to the application, the fitness center would fill the space left vacant The Hoot which relocated across Route 195, next to Staples.
“The existing 9,880 square foot tenant space, formerly The Hoot, will be converted to a Cardio Express fitness club,” reads the application. Plans include strength and cardio equipment, locker rooms, restrooms with showers, tanning rooms and areas for stretching.
The application – which includes information from Hartford-based architect firm Archimage Group – indicates that construction or changes to the space will be entirely within the existing square footage.
The facility will be open around the clock, from 5 a.m. Monday to 9 p.m. Friday as well as from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The application states that during the fitness club’s peak hours, 40 parking spaces would be needed, and that the mall currently provides sufficient parking to accommodate these 40 spaces.
Estimated sewer usage would be approximately 2,862 gallons a day.
A map attached to the application shows there would be a front desk and sitting area to the immediate left of the club’s front entrance.
Three separate workout areas – including the strength area, free weight area and cardio deck – will take up nearly half of the available unit.
In addition to maps, the application includes weekly tallies illustrating how many people visited the Tolland club during three different one-week periods.
If the East Brook Mall location receives comparable business, there could be between 4,000 and 6,000 gym visitors a week.
Posted Dec. 23, 2009
