Council completes table read on fitness uses; debate focuses on front‑of‑store activation and noise

At a workshop table read, council reviewed proposed ordinance 10‑73 to add fitness and indoor recreation uses to the borough code and to set ground‑floor activation standards on Haverford Avenue. The ordinance as drafted requires the first portion of a storefront to remain an active frontage; council and planning commission members discussed whether a 12‑foot requirement would make it harder to fill small vacancy spaces.

One council member said he was skeptical of the 12‑foot front activation requirement, calling it potentially prohibitive for small fitness or studio operators. Another council member explained the standard was intended to preserve many small storefronts and to avoid creating large single‑footprint uses that would reduce opportunities for smaller tenants. The ordinance also applies existing performance/noise standards to the new uses, and staff said compliance would be complaint‑driven and enforced at the boundaries.