Dear Aldermen,

I write to urge you to vote YES on the request by Modern Barre for an amendment to the existing Special Permit at 242-244 Commonwealth Avenue.

For several months, Modern Barre owner and principal instructor Julia (Williamson) Robinson has met with neighbors, city officials, elected officials, residents and others to address concerns that arose about the building earlier this year.

Since opening in 2013, Modern Barre has provided Chestnut Hill with a unique wellness center that provides a safe haven for students to explore the benefits of barre, a discipline that combines elements of ballet, yoga, and Pilates. Julia is a community-minded young woman who has invested countless hours and a lifetime of savings to provide Newton with something special.

As a first-time business owner and operator, Julia obtained all of the required permits that she understood as necessary to provide barre services to the community. Prior to this summer, there had not been a single complaint lodged against Modern Barre. When Julia learned that the space at 242-244 Commonwealth Ave. did not have the appropriate special permits, she immediately began the process of amending the special permit to ensure compliance.

Since being made aware of concerns by abutters, Julia has offered a number of limitations on the business. Over the course of the past 6 months the following concessions have been made:

• Reduced class schedule by 10%
• Reduced class size by roughly 10%
• Eliminated early morning and evening hours on weekends
• Added additional time (15 minutes) between classes to minimize traffic concerns
• Strictly enforced a no-parking-for-customers rule in the lot at 242-244 Commonwealth Ave.
• Limited early morning classes to three days per week

Throughout the summer and fall, dozens of Newton residents have stepped forward to share their stories about how Modern Barre has made a tremendous difference in their health, well-being and state of mind. Many neighbors have declared that it is a benefit to the neighborhood and poses absolutely no disturbance. Moreover, The City of Newton Department of Planning and Development has performed multiple studies to confirm that Modern Barre is a low intensity business and the proposed changes outlined in the revision to the Special Permit will not substantially increase the intensity of use of the space.

Only a handful of neighbors have voiced concerns about Modern Barre. A review of the record shows that this group appears to have focused on the studio as the result of a separate disagreement with the owner of 242-244 Commonwealth Ave. It should be noted that throughout the Special Permit process, there has not been a single concern raised about Modern Barre regarding noise, deliveries, emissions or other impacts that are typically associated with nuisance businesses.

In closing, I urge you to support Modern Barre's Special Permit application. The studio offers small class sizes to provide a personalized approach to exercise, fitness and wellness for everyone in the neighboring community. Newton should be proud to host a young, woman-owned business that provides the community a uniquely intimate studio. By working with the neighbors to address all of their concerns, Modern Barre has proven that it belongs at 242-244 Commonwealth Ave.