Council grants conditional-use approval for indoor golf-simulator facility in industrial park

The council unanimously approved resolution 19-20-26 on March 24 to allow GulfEnvy to operate a 3,263-square-foot indoor athletic training/golf simulator facility inside an existing 19,862-square-foot warehouse at 6501 and 6531 Park of Commerce Boulevard. Staff said the use is internal to the building, will not serve walk-up customers and will not include food, beverage, or alcohol service as part of the approval.

Senior planner Owen Devlin told the council the facility meets the athletic training facility criteria in city code and is compatible with surrounding industrial uses. "The use is completely internal to the building, so will not cause any inconvenience to surrounding neighbors," Devlin said. The planning and zoning board recommended approval on Feb. 19.

Applicant counsel Christina Belenke said the tenant is membership-based and will not operate as a walk-up retail facility. The council approved the resolution by voice vote, with members saying the application fit into a pattern of similar indoor recreational uses in light industrial areas and suggested staff consider whether small indoor recreational uses could be streamlined administratively in the future.

The resolution includes conditions described by staff (listed in the development order) and an ADA parking and curb-ramp improvement to support pedestrian access to the tenant space.