Planning Commission OKs Rezone of Gold's Gym Building

A to convert the building near I-5 to a church got a boost Thursday night, when planning commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend a rezoning of the property.

, an 800-member congregation with Baptist roots, is in the process of buying the foreclosed building from Bank of America after spending a decade without a permanent home. However, the property's current zoning prevents "assembly uses" where large numbers of people enter the building for a short period of time.

"We're just grateful," the church's pastor, Jay Stevans, said of the decision, which still must be affirmed by the city council to take effect.

Bob Brooks, who manages the Gold's Gym in Elk Grove and another in Natomas, was less happy about the vote. He said the gym still hopes to retain its current lease on the 44,000-square-foot building.

"We're still running a business and have a lot of great, loyal members," Brooks said. "This puts us in a position where we have to have a contingency plan if this things finally goes through and we have to find another location."

While a rezoning of the building from "highway travel commercial" to "general commercial" would give any new property owner more flexibility in how to use it, it does not automatically mean the church conversion would go forward. Sun Grove would still have to obtain building permits for renovations, including proving that they could guarantee sufficient parking, said city planning manager Christopher Jordan.

The city council will consider whether to approve the rezone at its meeting July 27.