Planet Fitness Inches Toward Opening, Multifamily Development at MacLellan Oil Takes Shape

30 units planned for Main St. between Library and Wicked Cheesy; MBTA Communities session this week

Planet Fitness is returning to Tewksbury at 553 Main St., next to Job Lots, though the company wouldn’t yet speculate on an opening date. Town Planner Alex Lowder says a sign special permit application will be before the Planning Board on Oct. 30, and the applicants are working on the interior of the building. Interested residents can sign up here to receive updates direct from the company.

Residents may recall that, until 2013, the Tewksbury Sports Club was a Planet Fitness. At that time, the TSC owner decided to part ways with the PF franchise and rebrand.

Several gyms have cycled through that 553 Main St. location. The company points out that with the premium membership level, Tewksbury Planet Fitness members can work out at any PF location, including those in Billerica, Wilmington, Dracut, Andover and Reading. That benefit is seen as a differentiator over other the gyms that have not done well at the site. In addition, the company says it gives back to host communities. For example, its philanthropic initiative, the Judgement Free Generation, aims to prevent bullying and promote kindness. During October, National Bullying Prevention Month, franchises are raising money to support longtime partner Boys & Girls Clubs of America. And its annual High School Summer Pass program invites teens to work out for free. 

Down the road at 1167, 1177 and 1187 Main St., a 30-unit multifamily residential building planned for the MacLellan Oil site is taking shape. The three lots total 3.1 acres, with about .22 of that wetlands. The owner is seeking to combine the lots and split them in two, creating a one-acre lot with 122 feet of frontage for the oil company’s use and a second two-acre lot with 336 feet of frontage on Main St. A section of the older home, at 1167, will be relocated and used as office space, and the other buildings and pool will be razed.

The plan calls for a 14,000 square foot, four-story building on the larger lot, fronting Main St., with 30 parking spaces underneath as well as additional spots behind. There will be 10 one- and two-bedroom units per floor.

The multifamily development is allowable by right in the Town Center district and was approved unanimously by the Planning Board in June. The proponents will return on Oct. 16 seeking the required land disturbance permits. They will also request a waiver for the size of the parking lot and will need to consult with the Conservation Commission to work within the 25-foot no-disturb zone.

Finally, remember that the zoning workshop to finalize the siting of MBTA Communities District is Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Tewksbury Senior Center.

Residents are invited to consider four potential districts for the MBTA Communities Overlay. Three options emerged from previous sessions as the most advantageous: Main A (Heath Brook Plaza to Oakdale Plaza), Main B (St. Williams to Colonial Drive), and North B (Trull Brook Golf Course). Town Manager Richard Montuori requested that the Town Center district be added back as a potential siting; that area includes the parcels with Archstone and Emerald Court as well as the MacLellan Oil site. Montuori said that he considered it premature to take that district off the table and wants to keep it as part of the discussion until the Select Board and Planning Board have the opportunity to weigh in.

Residents are encouraged but not required to register for the workshop.