Planning Board approves pilates studio for 1 North Beach Street
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
Perceiving no real spike in intensity of use, the Planning Board has unanimously approved Courtney L. McKechnie's pilates studio for Unit 1B at 1 North Beach St.

McKechnie's CLM Training will use half of the 780 square feet of her space for fitness training, and the other half for retail sales of related apparel. She will occupy one of two units in the building that former property owner George Nyren added onto the original structure at 1 North Beach St.

That halving of retail space, first planned for use by an adjacent wine store, combined with McKechnie's plan to train only four clients per 55- minute session, reduced her parking space needs from five to four.

"A pilates studio with less turnover than the beauty studio, the Star Brazil Mini-Mart and the dress shop is a much lower intensity use," said newly elected Planning Board member Linda Williams. "I don't a have an issue with this. The parking is basically a wash; it is good softer use for this building considering what could be in there."

Sweetening the deal for the board is McKechnie's proposed services discount for clients who leave their vehicles at home.

"The recreational permitted use we're proposing requires one space for every three people who use the pilates studio," said McKechnie's attorney, Sarah Alger. "Ms. McKechnie has put together a plan for those spaces and she has offered discounts to people who come to her location on foot or by bike, so it is a fitness-based program."

Acting Planning Board Chairman Nat Lowell said that McKechnie's business should be given the chance, considering that hers is one of the first businesses to occupy this new building, and because many of their patrons are likely to arrive on foot.

"I think with the removal of the Brazil Mart to Old South Road, that this site deserves to move forward with this change. Nothing has happened with this site for two or three years, so I don't have a problem with this business going in there.

"I think that it deserves a chance to happen. I think that like some of the other controversial decisions, there will be some input against it. But, I haven't seen one letter against it."

McKechnie said her hours of operation would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

and that she plans to open on June 1. I