Yoga Studio Permit Headed To Winnetka Village Council

WINNETKA, IL — Village trustees are scheduled to consider issuing a special use permit this week to allow a yoga studio in a shuttered former gift shop in Winnetka's central business district.

The Winnetka Village Council is set to vote Tuesday on Toned Yoga's application for a special use permit at 847 Elm St., where Ellen’s on Elm closed at the end of last year.

Toned Yoga currently operates a studio at 600 Walnut Street in Lake Bluff. Its mission statement describes itself as a "a boutique fitness studio" that prioritizes community connections, according to its application materials.

"We have found in our Lake Bluff location that this idea of community was something that was missing prior to Toned Yoga - a place where anyone and everyone can come to and feel welcome," company representatives said. "We are looking to replicate this amongst the Winnetka and surrounding suburb locations at this future location."

Because the location is within the village's C-2 General Retail Commercial District and C-2 Commercial Overlay District, such permits are required to operate personal fitness facilities there.

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Following a hearing earlier this month, the Winnetka Plan Commission voted 5-0 in support of the permit application, despite opposition from the local business community.

In a joint letter, the owners of five other nearby businesses — Frencess Heffernan, The Classic Stich, The Book Stall, Good Grapes and Doyle Opticians, opposed the special permit.

"Approving another special use permitted business in the West Elm (WE) business district conflicts with the Village’s significant financial investment in streetscape with the stated objective of business district revitalization. Unlike a retail or restaurant, a special use permitted business will not add a level of vibrancy or consumer foot traffic to WE," they argued.

After a bank's application for a special permit was denied for a Chestnut Street location, the storefront was eventually rented by a clothing shop that has contributed to the district's vibrancy.

"This is the only first floor commercial vacancy in WE," the business owners said. "It’s an important vacancy based on its location as the first business at the WE west entrance and a corner unit across from the soon-to- be epicenter of Winnetka"

Commissioners determined that the location was on the "fringe" of the zoning district that limits fitness facilities and therefore met the standards for a special use permit, according to a memo from Community Development Director David Schoon.

Schoon said trustees could grant only preliminary approval to the special use permit at Tuesday's meeting or consider whether to introduce and adopt the ordinance at the same meeting, in light of the unanimous plan commission recommendation.