ST. CHARLES COUNTY聽鈥 A local business wants to turn a former church and gymnasium here into a private youth sports club and family gym with luxury amenities including infrared saunas, cold plunges, steam rooms and a juice bar.
But neighbors say such a facility would be out-of-place in their quiet subdivisions. And area officials worry about the precedent set by allowing a gym to open in a residential community.聽
"The residents around this property are very concerned about losing the quiet enjoyment of their homes," said St. Charles Councilwoman Denise Mitchell.
The business, the ACLJ limited liability company, seeks to convert the former True Success Church building and adjacent gymnasium on Country Club Road in west St. Charles into a sports complex. It has proposed to St. Charles County turning the church building into the gym and training center, where athletes could, for instance, study game film. The gymnasium would host basketball and volleyball practices and trainings.
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"This will be a convenient place for locals who want to avoid the commute to big box commercial gyms," the company wrote in its proposal to the County Council. The company's proposal describes selling individual, family and "social-only" memberships.
ACLJ, through agent Aaron Pieper, is asking the County Council for a special permit allowing the gym to operate in a residential neighborhood.
Pieper did not respond to interview requests.
The former church, most recently named True Success, was built in 1991 and opened as a non-denominational church. The gym opened in 2023.聽
ACLJ purchased the 3-acre property in November, and sought to rezone for commercial use.
A youth sports club, Team Unleashed Athletics, submitted an occupancy permit that same month and began advertising on social media that it had a new location. By mid-November, Team Unleashed was playing in the church gym, according to the club's social media pages.
On Dec. 9, the county notified ACLJ that the gym did not have the appropriate permits to operate and "cannot be used for any commercial purposes, including training sessions, hosting games or any other basketball-related commercial activities."
On Dec. 17, ACLJ withdrew its zoning request.
Three days later, on Dec. 20, the county began receiving complaints from neighbors that the gym was still in use.
In January, one neighbor reported gym activity to the county. The next week, the county warned the gym again.
Over the next month, residents and officials continued to report vehicles parked at the gym and the lights on.
Now both the St. Charles City Council and the city's community development director are urging St. Charles County to reject the proposal.
The church is in a pocket of unincorporated county completely surrounded by St. Charles city.聽
The city is concerned about the long-term implications of approving a special permit for the gym. The property could one-day be annexed into the city, and the special use permit would stay with the property, Community Development聽Director Zach Tusinger聽said in a letter to the county.聽
The St. Charles City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging the County Council to reject ACLJ's request for the special permit.
And dozens of neighbors have written letters opposing the project. They worry about traffic congestion, noise and the gym's proposed hours 鈥 Team Unleashed wants to operate from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
Debra Bromberg is worried that "allowing commercial operations, even on a small scale, could set a detrimental precedent and fundamentally alter the character of our community."
In February, Club officials said they are focused more on small-group and individual training sessions rather than hosting large tournaments at the gym.
Several parents described in letters to the county how the program's coaching staff has聽helped hone their children's athletic skills.聽
Parent Jennifer Donley said Team Unleashed is "truly athlete-first," and that the coaches are focused on "developing the kids to become better athletes, enjoy the sport and learn valuable lessons they can carry with them into life."聽
Parent Lindsey Wegan said that if Team Unleashed were allowed to operate there, she would no longer have to drive her children to Chesterfield for regular practices and training.
"We were upset to hear that the facility cannot be used until this case is resolved," Wegan said.
A public hearing on the project is scheduled for Monday night. The County Council is expected to vote later this month on whether to approve the special permit.
