Yankee CrossFit Plans Move Following Resolution of Lawsuit

After a long battle with neighbors over noisy workout classes and runs past their door, a local CrossFit gym is planning to move.

Yankee CrossFit, which operated at 504 Main St. since 2010, was at the center of a lawsuit with the town of Farmington and the gym’s neighbors until it recently settled and agreed to new terms within the town regulations.

The high-energy workout classes, with music, shouting from instructors and crashing weights spilled out of the gym’s building and into the yard of the Quigleys, who lived next door. The gym’s workout regimen frequently also included short runs past the Quigley’s home and landmarks on their property were given as references, according to Deborah Quigley. 

The family took its complaints to the town, which issued a cease and desist order in May 2012.

But the classes and noise continued and fines against the gym mounted. The town was fining the gym $150 per day when violations of its original permit were observed.

The town obtained an injunction against the gym and the gym appealed the cease and desist order, then hired its own lawyer. The matter was finally settled with the town in December of 2012.

The terms of the settlement include a new special permit, with new conditions to keep the gym’s noise and activities inside the building and its members away from the Quigley’s home. The motion was approved by the Town Plan and Zoning Commission at its December meeting.

But just a month later, Yankee CrossFit was back on the commission’s agenda, asking for a special permit for a new location in the Farmington industrial park.

The gym plans to move to 24 Spring Lane, next to Murray Kaizer Dental Lab, which owns the building.

Geraldine Kaizer represented the application, along with a representative of the gym, who said the gym would not use an outside speaker system but he could not promise participants would not yell or run by the Quigleys’ house.

Kaizer said a small area of the parking lot was available for CrossFit to hold classes and the building’s previous tenant had been a music and dance studio.

Commission members agreed the new location would be a good fit for the gym.

“I’ve seen this space and think it really does suit your purposes,” said Chairman Phil Dunn. “This is entirely in an industrial zone… unless you violate the noise ordinance and we do have a complaint, I wouldn’t restrict your special permit to include speakers or bullhorns because I don’t think there’s anyone you could bother.” 

Quigley addressed the commission, asking members to consider a way for her property to be protected, since moving to a new location would free the gym from the newly agreed on conditions.

The commission approved CrossFit’s application and gave permission for it to operate in the new location. Farmington Valley Dance and Music, formerly known as Danscapes, used to occupy the space but has recently moved to 210 Main St. in Post Office Square.