CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance approving a variance to Section 6-7D-4 of the Municipal Code to allow Barber Haus/Health Haus to operate at 232 S. Washington Street, Suites 6 & 7 (Barber Haus/Health Haus) - DEV-0099-2025
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Sara Kopinski, AICP
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered the petitioner's request on August 20, 2025, and voted to recommend approval of the petitioner's request (approved 8-0). Staff concurs with the PZC's recommendation.
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located on the east side of Washington Street, north of Chicago Avenue, and has a common street address of 232 S. Washington Street. The property is zoned B4 (Downtown Core) and is improved with a multi-tenant commercial building. Some of the building's tenant spaces front Washington Street, while others front the Washington Street alley or a landscaped courtyard off the Washington Street alley. Suites 6 and 7 are two, ground floor tenant spaces that lack any visibility/frontage from Washington Street and are only visible from the courtyard and alley in the rear of the subject property.
The petitioner currently operates a barbershop known as Barber Haus in Suite 7 of the building. At this time, they wish to expand their services to include a health spa (to be known as Health Haus) in the adjacent suite, Suite 6. To do so, the petitioner requests approval of a variance to Section 6-7D-4 (B4/Required Conditions) of the Municipal Code to allow a general service use/health spa to locate on the first floor of a building in the City's B4 zoning district.
DISCUSSION:
The petitioner seeks to expand their current barbershop operations to include a health spa known as Health Haus on the first floor of a multi-tenant, commercial building in the downtown. The petitioner believes that a health spa would complement the existing barbershop by providi...
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