Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Use Massage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan Commission recommends Village Board consider special use for massage business at 747 W. Dundee Road amid neighborhood concerns
Summary
The Plan Commission recommended the special‑use request for Gia Spa (747 W. Dundee Rd.) to the Village Board with staff conditions (business license application and a sign permit); nearby spa owners raised concerns about overconcentration, traffic and parking, while the landlord said there are 47 regular and 3 handicapped spaces.
On Jan. 14 the Wheeling Plan Commission voted to recommend that the Village Board consider a special‑use permit allowing a massage establishment operating as Gia Spa at 747 West Dundee Road (PSU25‑0024). The commission’s action followed staff testimony, public comment from nearby businesses, and answers from the petitioner and translator about operations and staffing.
Planning staff introduced the request and explained special‑use standards in the Wheeling Municipal Code (Title 19). Staff recommended two conditions to accompany the commission’s recommendation: (1) the petitioner must submit a business license application to the Community Development Department and demonstrate compliance with Chapter 4.74 of the Wheeling Municipal Code prior to the Village Board appearance, and (2) obtain a Wheeling sign permit under Title 21 before installing exterior signage. Staff stated no objection to the massage establishment subject to those conditions.
Petitioner (recorded in the staff introduction as Jia Liu and speaking with a translator) said the business would offer foot and related massage services, operate roughly 9 a.m.–9 p.m. seven days a week, and typically have one massage worker on duty despite three treatment rooms. The petitioner said the Illinois massage license‑holder (his mother) was present. In public comment, Peter Klasek, who said he represents Yulu Annie’s Sunny Spa, urged denial, saying the proposed site is about 325 feet from his business and arguing that the two locations would create an overconcentration of similar uses with increased traffic and parking demand. Landlord Young Suk Jang told the commission his property has 47 regular and 3 handicapped parking spaces and said parking is usually underutilized.
Commissioners questioned maximum occupancy, staffing, parking allocation and whether the licensed therapist would be present. Commissioners noted the site had been approved previously for a massage establishment under Ordinance No. 5732 for a different petitioner who later withdrew. After discussion, the commission moved, seconded and voted to recommend approval to the Village Board, subject to the conditions described by staff. The petitioner was instructed to appear at the Village Board meeting on Feb. 2 for final action.
Because the Village Board makes the final determination on special uses, the commission’s action is a recommendation; opponents were told they may bring their concerns again before the Village Board. The record includes public opposition letters cited by staff but does not record Village Board action in this meeting.
