HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - D&O for Special Use Permit Home Occupation Permit for Massage Therapy CITY OF AMES, IOWA 7AMES
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTM
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICA-
TION OF LARSON FOR A SPECIAL CASE NO. 11-02
HOME OCCUPATION PERMIT, SEC- GEOCODE NO.09-05-102-010
TION 29.1304 OF THE AMES MUNICIPAL :
CODE,TO ALLOW A MASSAGE THERA- :
PIST BUSINESS ON THE PROPERTY DECISION& ORDER
LOCATED AT 4122 QUEBEC STREET
FACTS
The property at this address is a single family detached split level home with a detached two car
garage. It is located in an RL(Residential Low Density)zoning district which is owned and occupied
� ._ by a married couple. The wife is a licensed massage therapist who has operated in a commercial
location for the last six years and has an established clientele.She is hoping to relocate her busiress
to have a home-based operation, and is seeking a Special Home Occupation permit to allow this.
The applicant's home has 3020 square feet of floor area,ofwhich approximately 280 square feet will
be set aside for massage therapy. There will not be any structural changes necessary to accommodate
this business, since the only equipment which will be used will be a large massage table. The
applicant would like to have hours of operation from 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.Monday through Friday
which, from experience,will allow her to schedule a couple of appointments in the mornings and
two or three more in the afternoons. She operates by appointment only, and the sessions take
approximately an hour to hour and a half each. Although some concern is expressed that the late
afternoon hours will overlap with the times that other residents are coming home,that time is very
popular for her clients who work days and the evenings would work better than trying to
accommodate additional hours on a weekend. With the anticipated client load, she can schedule
clients so that there is only one on the premises at any given time. The home has a two-car garage
with a driveway that will park four additional vehicles. The family has two vehicles, but her
husband's work hours are such that he will not be at home using a parking space during her hours
of operation. She will park her vehicle in the garage, so there should always be ample off street
parking even if two clients were to end up there at the same time. The applicant does not plan to
have any sign nor will there be any inventory or deliveries associated with the business. She will be
the only employee of this business and this will be the only home occupation at the residence. No
classes are offered in connection with this business.
DECISION
The Board considers the standards applicable to Special Home Occupation permits under the
provisions of the zoning ordinance. The Board has received the testimony of staff and the applicant
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and has accepted as true the facts about the operation which the applicant has submitted in her
application, and based on it, finds that the applicant meets the standards for area to be used,
equipment,employees,traffic,parking,signs,and number of home occupations and classes. In light
of that, the Board determines that it can grant this permit.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is granted a Special Home Occupation
Permit, Section 29.1304 of the Ames Municipal Code,to allow a therapeutic massage business on
the property located at 4122 Quebec Street.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after the
filing of this decision.
Done this 9`' day of March, 2011.
ily Burto Thomas Weber
ecretary to a Board Chair
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