Politics & Government

Alpharetta Rejects Downtown Spa Services Business

An application by Rejuvenate Spa to open a business on South Main Street that would offer massage therapy was voted down by City Council.

Alpharetta City Council rejected an Alpharetta woman's request to open a spa service offering massage therapy in the same downtown retail center as a nail salon that has zoning to allow the same service.

The city's Unified Development Code requires spa services to be located in retail centers and at least 2,000 feet apart.

Mayor David Belle Isle made the motion to reject the conditional use permit necessary to allow Rejuvenate Spa to open in the retail center at 131 South Main Street. He said the city's ordinance on spa services were in palce for good reason, and the city would be examining this type of business in its Unified Development Code.

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V-Nail Salon does not offer massage therapy now but it has the necessary zoning approval. Borrelli's Salon had approval for massage therapy, but that expired because city approval for the service there was tied to a specific person, who no longer works there.

The Alpharetta Planning Commission recommended approval for the application by Yong Shuai Lai. Kathi Cook, deputy director of the Community Development Department, said staff had no problem with approval because Borelli's no longer offered massage therapy, and VNail did not offer it either, and had gotten approval just to offer foot massages.

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Council voted 6-1 to reject Rejuvenate Spa's application, with Councilman Donald Mitchell opposed.


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