GameChanger Athletics gets planners’ approvals

Personal training business GameChanger Athletics, 110 E. Second Street, on Monday, July 2, received site plan and special exception approval from the Rochester Planning Commission for expanded training and fitness operations. Co-owner Stephanie Jones said the specialized training studio moved into its first-floor location some time ago, not realizing they would need a special exception for the business' use. They have since been working with the city to gain the proper approvals. "When we first moved into the building, I checked the zoning map and read it wrong," Jones said. Rochester Economic and Community Development Director Nik Banda said the building, which was formerly home to the Rochester-Avon Recreation Authority, is a multi-tenant building that was originally intended to be used as office space on the first floor. There have been several other uses at the building. "We find them to be a desirable use in town," Banda said about GameChanger. Jones said GameChanger operates as a private gym that provides private lessons and classes to individuals and small groups, specializing in fitness and tumbling. "We do a lot of private lessons for cheerleaders and dancers trying to achieve special skills," she said. "We also do some private training during the day. Any of our classes are small groups – about six people – and it's mostly youth, except during the day when we do some personal training, and that's limited to trainers on staff. We like to keep business private and contained, but we wanted to expand our space a little to bring in specific equipment that requires more space, as well as running space for tumbling." The number of students and peak business hours were key to the planning commission's decision to approve the request, as the business shares parking space with other businesses at the multi-tenant building. Under the city's zoning ordinance, there must be 69 parking spaces available to accommodate the business, as well as three others at the building. While GameChanger proposed adding additional spaces, the proposed plan fell short of the required number by 10 parking spaces. Planning commissioners determined approval wouldn't lead to a shortage of parkings spaces during any peak hours, based on the business plan of GameChanger and others. Commissioners granted approval with the clause that the parking deviation apply only to GameChanger, and that none of the uses on the site may be replaced by a more intensive use that would require additional parking.