CrossFit Gym Declared 'Public Nuisance' By Hermosa Beach

HERMOSA BEACH, CA – The Hermosa Beach City Council declared a CrossFit Horsepower gym a "public nuisance" after years of neighbor complains of excessive noise. Now, its business license is in jeopardy, according to the Daily Breeze.

The gym has 90 days to reduce the vibration and noise caused by weight-lifting, or it will be forced to eliminate the use of free weights and cut its operating hours to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mercury News reported. Modifications like these could shut down the business, its attorney Robert Crockett told the news website.

“The fact that a nuisance has been presented and does exist and has been habitual since 2015, without any real concerted efforts to resolve it, I think to me is indisputable,” Mayor Jeff Duclos told Daily Breeze.

The council's vote was 3-0 after two council members recused themselves because they live near the gym, Mercury News reported. There were 70 complaints by neighbors from January 12 to June 26 – 54 were related to weights, 12 for music and three for outdoor activity, according to the Daily Breeze.

Crockett requested Hermosa Beach hires an acoustic expert to examine the noise and vibration levels before making their decision, Mercury News reported. That will be part of the abatement process, but the gym will be required to pay for the study, according to City Attorney Mike Jenkins. The city will be able to hire its own expert.

After a few changes were made to the original ordinance, Councilmember Hany Fangary decided to back the ordinance – but removing free weights, which is a large aspect of CrossFit workouts, concerned both Fangary and Duclose, Daily Breeze reported.

“I think the balance approach… would serve better by having our acoustic expert and our staff work with the business to get it into conformance rather than immediate cease and desist that could potentially drive it out of business,” Fangary said.

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