A petition for a variance for Eastlake Athletic Club was approved at the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Thursday. The case was the sole item on the agenda.

The club’s co-owner, Jason Evers, requested a variance to allow the change and alteration to a previously granted variance by allowing two permitted commercial uses to be located on one tract of ground. A Chinese restaurant is located next to the new fitness facility.

The new club will be a 24-hour fitness center. Evers owns several fitness centers in Elkhart County, including Nappanee and Middlebury. The new club will be located at 734 S. Huntington St.

Evers also wanted to allow 35 parking spaces where a previously granted variance required 40 parking spaces. Evers said he doesn’t see parking being an issue. “I don’t see us needing all 35 (spaces),” he said. If parking becomes an issue the board will revisit parking.

Evers said he has received positive support from the community for the fitness center and that he will lease the building. The Realtor and the building’s owner were also at the meeting.

Board members Larry Coplen, Jim Allegret and Dan List were present at the meeting. The next meeting is at 6 p.m. May 15, at Syracuse Town Hall. Meetings are open to the public.