Permit for massage business denied after neighborhood complaints - Bowling Green Daily News

[massage]

The Board of Adjustments of Warren County denied Thursday a request for a conditional use permit to operate a massage therapy business after residents in the neighborhood complained.


Elizabette Raby filed the application to operate the business at 2432 Tam O' Shanter Court, which is zoned R-E for Residential Estate.


Board Chairman Mike Davenport expressed his concerns about having residents operate businesses in a residential neighborhood and asked Raby why she didn't consider offering her services in an area that's already zoned for business.


"It's a residential neighborhood and when you start putting in a business, do you not feel like that may change some of the character of the neighborhood?" Davenport said. "... A lot of other people in your same profession rent locations that are zoned for business," Davenport said.


Working from home fit well with Raby's goals.


"It was something that when the opportunity arose when we were going to move into this house with it being in the location that it's in, with it being just myself, to be able to work there, it's something that's been a desire of mine to be able to have my own practice and to be able to set my own prices, to be able to see my own clients and things of that nature," Raby said.


Sarah Lagermann, who also lives on Tam O' Shanter Court, said the business would take away some of the freedom and trust parents have about letting their children roam and play outside.


"These children are outside all the time, which is a part of the charm of the neighborhood," Lagermann said. "There's a certain perimeter of trust that most families in the neighborhood share, meaning they'll let their children go so far because we know each other very well and we're worried that would change."


Another neighbor, Monica Leedy, shared the same concerns about the safety of children, but she also offered some insight of massage therapy because she was a massage therapist for 10 years.


"When working in this type of profession you deal with all sorts of people, you have no idea of who's coming into your appointments and my concern is sexual predators being in our neighborhood," Leedy said. "The safest and the most efficient way to operate this profession is in an office space or booth rental."


Neighbors also were concerned that the business could lower the value of the homes in the neighborhood.


Eric Tanner, who owns the property that Raby is leasing, said the concerns of the neighbors are petty.


"This doesn't benefit me at all, but I have to say something because I own the house and I feel like the people I know would say something different. I just think that it's little petty stuff that wouldn't really amount to nothing," Tanner said.


After hearing all the concerns, the board unanimously denied the request based on the findings that the use would be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare and the use would result in parking problems and constitute a nuisance.


The board approved a conditional use permit for Highland Stables to operate an agritourism business at 1301 Hunts Lane and for Christin and Marcie Mulwitz to operate a hair salon at 430 Richpond Road.


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