Planet Fitness plans to move a fitness center into the vacant building space formerly occupied by the Big Lots! store on Poway Road.
The Poway City Council on Oct. 17 unanimously approved a conditional use permit that will allow a 16,000-square-foot fitness center to be built in the storefront at 12342 Poway Road. The building is adjacent to North Park Produce Poway and across the street from a 99 Cents Only Stores business.
The floor plan proposes a large open gym area along with smaller enclosed tanning and hydro lounge space, and separate men’s and women’s showers, locker rooms and restrooms, according to a staff report.
Only minor changes are proposed for the building’s exterior, including changing out the existing glass sliding doors with new glass entry doors. Other site improvements include improving landscaping, connecting an existing pedestrian path to the Pomerado Road sidewalk, and making existing driveways along Poway Road and Pomerado Road ADA-compliant, the staff report states.
The proposed fitness center would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the staff report also states.
Before the council voted, Mayor Steve Vaus read a letter written by a woman who is opposed to the proposed fitness center.
“We do not need another fitness center in the area,” Vaus read. “I would rather see a retail store that is now not available in Poway, specifically either a T.J. Maxx or Marshalls.”
Planet Fitness is home of the “Judgment Free Zone” and is all about affordable, non-intimidating fitness that’s attainable for everyone regardless of fitness level, said Heather Pearson, Planet Fitness public relations manager, in an email.
“The local franchise group is thrilled to be opening a location in the Poway community,” Pearson wrote about the New Hampshire-based Planet Fitness.
The clubs offer state-of-the-art cardio machines and strength equipment, a 30-minute express circuit, flat-screen televisions and day lockers and showers, among other things, she said.
Memberships start at $10 a month or $24.99 a month for the Planet Fitness Black Card.
As of June 30, Planet Fitness had more than 18.4 million members and 2,472 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia, Pearson said.