The Lowell City Board of Appeals voted to grant a special permit allowing a massage business to operate at 16 Studman St., with a condition that the applicant satisfy the fire department’s fire-alarm requirements for the tenancy.

Henry Gerard Joseph Lafontaine, agent for the applicant listed as Simi P. Egan, told the board the space is built out for a single-treatment-room operation and that the current owner purchased the business in 2023. "We realized that we lacked the permits and that we want to be compliant fully with the city," he said, and described plans to pursue a certificate of occupancy, fire inspection, and then a city license (he said a state license is already held).

Board members said the business appears to have operated in the location in previous years, and Mr. McCarthy recommended one condition: coordination with the fire department to confirm the fire-alarm system is adequate for the new tenancy. The agent said he would work with planning, the health department, and the fire department after the board’s approval.

A motion by Mr. McCarthy, seconded by Mr. Prokop, approved the special permit with that single condition; the roll call recorded approvals across the board. The board recorded that staff will follow normal permitting steps (special permit, certificate of occupancy and inspections, then city licensing) before the business opens or continues operations under the local license.

The agent accepted the condition at the meeting.