Council approves Opal & Sage request to offer haircutting and full‑service salon in RP zone

The Highland City Council voted 5-0 on June 3 to allow a full‑service hair salon, including haircutting, coloring and styling, to operate at a business space in the Opal & Sage complex under the residential‑professional zone.

Rob (city planning staff) explained that the residential‑professional zone does not explicitly permit or prohibit salon uses. A similar application for the same building two years earlier had been approved for aesthetic and spa services but expressly excluded haircutting. The current applicant, Bailey Price, told the council she plans to expand a blow‑dry bar into a full‑service hair salon and head spa on the other half of the building.

Staff reviewed parking and site access and reported the property has 52 on‑site parking spaces and about 17 styling stations. Even with a conservative parking estimate (two cars per station), staff concluded the site meets city parking standards and that a conditional‑use approval would still be valid if the use transfers between operators on the same site. Rob said that only a change of site, exterior shell, parking or access would require the conditional‑use process to be repeated.

Bailey Price said she intends a neighborhood‑oriented salon that would serve Highland residents. Council members asked questions about home‑businesses and the difference between the proposed commercial use and small at‑home providers.

Councilmember Ron moved adoption of staff findings and approval of the salon use, and Councilmember Kim seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

Ending: The applicant may proceed with permitting steps consistent with the city’s conditional‑use and building permit processes; staff confirmed the existing conditional‑use framework will apply if the approved use moves to a new operator at the same site.