Planet Fitness to open at former Lincoln dealership

Photo by Eric Pierce

DOWNEY – Planet Fitness has submitted plans to open a 16,371 square foot gym at the former Lincoln Mercury dealership site at Lakewood Boulevard and Gallatin Road. 

If approved by the Planning Commission on Wednesday, the gym would occupy the dealership's former parts department, which has been vacant since the car lot closed in 2009. 

Planet Fitness would also become the first announced tenant for the "Downey Crossroads" retail development planned for the site. 

According to its conditional use permit application, Planet Fitness plans to dedicate the majority of its floor plan to general cardio and weight workout areas. There will be room for circuit training and stretching, along with men's and women's locker rooms and restrooms. 

An artist's rendering of the new Planet Fitness in Downey.

The fitness center also will feature a "Beauty Lounge" with massage chairs, hydro-massage tables, tanning beds, and red light therapy. Front desk staff would operate the beauty lounge, eliminating the need for massage technicians or licensed staff. 

Planet Fitness is requesting to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although city staff have recommended the gym's hours be limited from 5 a.m. to midnight weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. 

"Staff believes that these hours will balance the needs of people that wish to work out before work or late night, while avoiding noise impacts onto the neighbors," senior planner David Blumenthal wrote in a report. The property is bordered by single-family homes and apartment buildings to its west.

City planners also recommended Planet Fitness be prohibited from blacking out its windows. 

"This is necessary, in staff's opinion, since the Crossroads project was designed to create a synergy between interior activities and the exterior of the building," Blumenthal wrote. 

Planning Commissioners will consider the application Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.