Committee of the Whole gives consensus to pursue waiver for proposed massage studio and asks staff to research licensing standards

At a Committee of the Whole session, staff presented a request to waive a proximity restriction in the massage license code for a proposed therapeutic massage business at 1101 South Milwaukee Avenue, Unit 105. The code prohibits massage establishments within 1,000 feet of residentially zoned property and within certain distances of businesses with liquor licenses.

The applicant, who identified himself as "Mike," described plans for licensed therapists offering therapeutic, foot and head massage services and said the layout would include some partition walls that do not extend to the ceiling. Staff said the unit has been vacant for some time and that the property owner and broker submitted letters of support. Committee members asked why liquor-proximity rules existed and discussed the visibility of entrances, transparency of front windows and other licensing controls to ensure legitimate operations.

The committee gave consensus for staff to prepare a waiver resolution and to research what other municipalities require for visibility, transparency and room configuration for massage establishments. If the committee moves the item forward, staff said it will return with a resolution and suggested conditions such as window visibility and non‑fully enclosed private rooms to ensure compliance with licensing standards.

What’s next: Staff will prepare a draft resolution for committee review and will report back on licensing practices in neighboring towns and recommended conditions for approval.