Chambana Sun

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the Danville City Council approved an ordinance permitting a proposed fitness facility by a vote of 9 to 3.

True Grit Fitness would be located at 4102 North Vermillion St. The petitioner, Matt Stines, already owns a similar business in Tilton that is doing well. He promises to make it a professional and clean place within the neighborhood, planting plenty of greenery around it.

Stines explained why he chose that location.

“It is zoned for business and I think it’s my first pick because I live in that neighborhood,” Stines told council. “I want to see — I don’t want to see a gas station put in there. I’d rather put up my own money, take care of the property, do it the right way, that way if any of the neighbors have any concerns they can call me.”

A neighbor came out to the board meeting to speak to the character of Stines. The neighbor was a longtime resident of Danville and lived near the proposed site. He said Stines was a fine young man with good character that he trusted to bring a good business to the city that would benefit the community.

Another neighbor came to the board meeting to oppose the development. It is located directly across from her house and she voiced concerns about increased traffic in the neighborhood, increased danger to children in the neighborhood, decreased property values, and the loss of neighborhood character. She spoke about how the change in plans for the development to use the subdivision road for its entrance would increase light pollution into her home.

Aldermen Ethan Burt and Carolyn Wands were absent from the Nov. 15 meeting.

The council will meet for the last time in 2022 at 6 p.m. on Dec. 20 in the lower level in the city council chambers at the Robert E. Jones Municipal Building on 17 West Main St.