Woburn council sends Daisy Body Spa special-permit request to committee after questions about prior violations and hours

Attorney Joseph Tabby, representing the petitioner for Daisy Body Spa, told the City Council of Woburn on April 1 that the petition seeks a special permit under section 5.1(33)(b) to allow “muscular therapy” at 440 (also listed as 442) Main Street. Tabby said the building, constructed in 1979, contains about 5,260 square feet of retail space and has previously been used for salons and therapy uses. "The proposed hours of operation are 7 days a week from 9AM to 9PM," Tabby said, adding the petitioner holds a Massachusetts muscular-therapy license and the plan calls for two therapists and three treatment rooms.

The council accepted communications from Planning Director John Cashel and Building Commissioner Thomas C. Quinn and received three proposed permit conditions Tabby submitted as a working draft. Councilors raised concerns about building-code issues documented in Commissioner Quinn’s memo and said they want clearer assurances before a permit is granted. "Some of the reports I've heard, are rather disturbing and there's activity that I don't want in the city," Councilor Towle said, asking the council to request any police reports related to the address.

Councilors also questioned the requested 12-hour daily schedule; Tabby said the petitioner would accept a reduced schedule if required, noting a prior special permit had allowed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Council voted to send the petition to the special permits committee, request police department correspondence for committee review, and continue the public hearing to the May 6 council meeting.

The special-permit process will include committee review of the building-commissioner memorandum and any police records the committee requests. Councilors asked for a committee packet that addresses Commissioner Quinn’s specific code concerns and for the petitioner to meet the building commissioner and contractor before building permits are sought, as Tabby proposed.

The council did not approve the special permit at the April 1 meeting; it advanced procedural steps and set a May 6 continuation so committee members can review the requested documents and conditions.