Former Longtime Greenwich Bank Building Could House Jiu-Jitsu Classes

GREENWICH, CT — A former longtime bank building in the Byram section of Greenwich could be converted to house jiu-jitsu classes, according to plans submitted to the Greenwich Planning & Zoning Department.

JED Martial Arts LLC, a prospective lessee of the property at 30 South Water St. in Byram, is looking to change the use of the building from office to group fitness for jiu-jitsu instruction, documents on file with the town say.

The now vacant building, owned by 30 South Water Street LLC, is 4,288 square feet and on a .35 acre parcel of land. It had been used as a bank since it was built in 1967, and most recently, it was occupied by Bank of America.

The proposed use would maintain the first floor as it is, with minor modifications to allow group classes with a maximum of 15 students and an instructor, submitted documents say. The lower level would be reconfigured for bathrooms and lockers.

An anticipated schedule for jiu-jitsu instruction would be as follows:

Monday to Friday

• 7 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
• 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
• 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
• 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• 8 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Saturday

• 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
• 11: a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
• 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

The parking required for bank use is 22 spaces plus a handicap space, submitted documents note, but there are only 12 spaces and a handicap space at the site currently.

The existing parking "should be more than sufficient for the use," submitted plans say.

An addition of four parking spaces could be achieved by adding parallel spaces in what is now the "drive-past lane" on the southwestern side of the property, according to submitted plans. The Department of Public Works would have to review any additions.

Overall, the site would remain "largely unchanged," except for the replacement of plantings in planting beds "which are currently fairly sparse."

A pre-application is expected to be reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission in the coming weeks.

The pre-application process allows for a non-binding discussion with the commission about the pros and cons of a proposal before a substantial investment is made in developing plans, reports and studies.