The former Kogarah Council building it to become an indoor gymnasium.
The Georges River Council Planning Panel is expected to approve an application this week to approve that part of the lower ground floor of the four-storey former council building in Belgrave Street, Kogarah be used as a recreational facility.
The application states that conversion of the council-owned building to be used as a gym will cost just over $47,000.
The gym will have personal training and small group classes with up to 27 people attending these sessions.
There will be four staff and the gym will operate Monday to Friday 5.30am to 8.30pm, and Saturday 7.30am to 10.30am, with peak usage times expected to be 6am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm.
The application includes the use of four car spaces in the former council car park.
While the proposed use as a gymnasium is permitted under the area’s B4 mixed use and recreational zoning, the proposal does not satisfy the requirements for advertising signage under the Kogarah Development Control Plan.
The application proposes signage that will entirely obscure the glass front doors and windows and is seen as a poor outcome for surveillance and public safety.
“The signage is not compatible with the desired amenity and visual character of the area, nor is it suitably located on the building,” the council report to the Local Planning Panel stated.
“The signage design is not supported and a condition of consent will be included not to include signage as part of the approval.”
Otherwise, the application for conversion of part of the former council building to use as a gymnamsium has been recommended for approval when it goes before the Georges River Council Local Planning Panel for consideration this Thursday.
Following the amalgamation of Kogarah and Hurstville councils, Georges River Council decided to locate the majority of staff to one location in the Civic Centre in Hurstville.
The building at 2 Belgrave Street, Kogarah was made available for lease in January last year and advertised as having 350 square-metres of space and is being offered as vacant possession.
Located within walking distance of St George Hospital, it was advertised as suitable for a variety of uses including as medical suites.
“The leasing of the building will also provide commercial businesses the opportunity to establish themselves within the Kogarah CBD, which will also assist the local economy,” a council report said at the time.
Until now, it has remained vacant.
