Meditation Center Clears Zoning Hurdle

Uses permitted in the Light Industrial Zone on North Avenue

It was a squeaker, but after some pondering the Zoning Board of Adjustment agreed a proposed meditation center at 1112-1118 North Avenue could be construed as a "health and fitness club."

Applicants Daniel Galczynski and Ruben Lambert waited through two hearings Wednesday for their turn to get an opinion from the board. Galczynski has a background in martial arts and physical education and Lambert holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. The premise of their center is to work toward mind and body wellness, a holistic approach considering a sound mind to be the foundation of all physical health.

The concept goes far back in both Eastern and Western philosophies, but is being rediscovered today. Type in "mind-body fitness" or "holistic wellness" online and literally millions of links pop up. But the Zoning Board discussion hinged on just one sentence, then just one word in the city's Land Use definition of a health and fitness club: "An establishment that provides facilities for physical exercises and/or saunas, showers and lockers." 

The bone of contention was "or." Were they planning to have showers?

"I'm all in favor of good hygiene," Lambert said, but noted the center would be non-profit.

As happens with the quasi-judicial board, the discussion went back and forth.

"If you have showers, you will fit the definition," board Chairman Scott Belin said.

Board member Melvin Cody suggested having a plumber in to get estimates on the cost of putting showers in the building, but board attorney Peter Vignuolo reined him back in to deciding whether the proposed use met the city's definition of a health and fitness club.

Board member Frank Johnson said showers were necessary, but colleague Alejandro Ruiz said most people want to do their 30 minutes of exercise and go home.

Belin said the applicants met the principle of health and wellness.

"Everything does not have to involve weights and Zumba," he said.

Planning Director Bill Nierstedt said if the board wanted to work on a new definition, it could do that too.

But Belin said even without a shower the proposal fit the definition of a fitness center.

When finally polled, the board split. Two motions followed, one that the proposal did fit the definition and one that it didn't. But each failed for lack of a second.

Belin had asked earlier about the "and/or" part of the definition and brought it up again, calling it "ambiguous." He reviewed the theme of physical exercise with meditation and said, "Each of us has his own interpretation" before offering a motion that the proposal did fit the definition of a health and fitness club. That motion led to a second, and the roll call produced unanimous approval.

Galczynski and Lambert will now have to appear before the Planning Board to discuss issues including parking, but at least they cleared the hurdle of defining their project. Given the proposed center's proximity to the Netherwood train station, Nierstedt suggested they might be interested in tonight's Planning Board meeting at which the new Transit-Oriented Development Netherwood zone will be on the agenda. Nierstedt said two other health and fitness clubs are proposed, at  1000 and 1280 North Avenue near the train station.

Galczynski said he and Lambert hope to have the Soshimsa Meditation Center open "as soon as possible." The format of mind and body wellness is "the gold standard of today," Lambert said. As for their expected clientele, it is "anybody who's interested."

--Bernice