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Trustees press staff for conditions, background checks on Miracle Spa 2 special-use request
Summary
Trustees discussed a special-use application for Miracle Spa 2 at 121 South Lincoln Way, pressing staff to research police records, licensing and a local ordinance before the request returns to the Committee of the Whole on April 6; the planning commission had recommended approval.
A Committee of the Whole meeting on March 16 considered a special-use application for Miracle Spa 2, a proposed 1,500-square-foot nail, hair and massage salon at 121 South Lincoln Way.
The planning commission on March 3 recommended approval, staff said, and village staff reported the lot has approximately 65 public parking spaces and would meet a zoning requirement of five spaces for the proposed tenant. A village staff member said anticipated hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and that the business expected one full-time and one part-time on-site but would also rely on technicians who come by appointment.
Why it matters: trustees raised concerns tied to prior local problems with massage businesses and questioned enforcement tools. Several trustees said the village currently cannot hold an owner fully liable when an individual practitioner violates state rules because village regulation is limited to zoning; law-enforcement responses and state licensing apply to practitioners, not to municipal oversight of owners unless the village adopts a local licensing ordinance.
John Duggan, the attorney for the applicant, said the owner of the property is Ray Gonzales and that the tenant has operated a similar location in the Oswego area for eight years. "According to the owner and the owner of this of the spa, they've never had any complaints or incidents," Duggan said. He offered to answer trustee questions about operations and staffing.
Trustees asked whether all massage therapists and hairdressers would post and hold Illinois licenses; Duggan said they are licensed and operate by appointment and that many hair providers use chair-rental arrangements. Trustees also asked whether police had records of incidents at the applicant's other location; village staff and the attorney said staff had inquired but asked the police chief for further background checks.
Several trustees signaled support for drafting a local licensing ordinance specific to massage establishments so the village could impose regulatory conditions and potentially hold owners accountable. Staff noted licensing would be regulatory under the village's police power and separate from zoning; zoning conditions could still be recommended but might not cover the full range of enforcement tools trustees said they wanted.
The board did not vote on the special-use application. Trustees directed staff to consult the village attorney and police, research possible zoning conditions and a licensing approach, and return options at the next Committee of the Whole meeting on April 6.
The Committee of the Whole also noted packet contact information had been redacted for new applicants after staff discovered fraudulent bills were being circulated using the village logo; staff said redaction protects applicants and does not reflect anything specific to Miracle Spa 2.
What happens next: staff will present recommended conditions and any proposed regulatory steps at the April 6 Committee of the Whole meeting; the special-use item will return for further consideration then.
