Date: Fri 25-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

Avance-Esthetiques-P&Z

Full Text:

Avance Esthetiques Wants To Move Its Business To Parcel Adjacent To Sand Hill

Plaza

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The proprietor of a spa at Sand Hill Plaza has proposed that a piece of land

north of the plaza be rezoned from residential to business so the spa can move

there and expand its operations.

In an informal presentation to the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on

April 17, Judith Volpe, the proprietor of Avance Esthetiques, a day spa at the

plaza, proposed that a 1.7-acre residential lot at 224 South Main Street, on

which she holds a purchase option, be rezoned for business use so she can move

her business from the plaza to that lot where a new building would be

constructed.

Avance Esthetiques provides services such as massages, body treatments, and

facials.

P&Z members asked Avance Esthetiques to prepare a formal proposal for members'

consideration.

The 224 South Main Street site is an undesirable one for a residence and is

much better suited for a commercial use with B-1 zoning, according to Ms

Volpe. The site currently doesn't make sense as a residential zone, she said.

Ms Volpe has operated the day spa in the plaza for the past seven years. The

business's growth requires that it expand to meet customer demand, she said.

Due to space limitations at the plaza, Ms Volpe said she finds herself in a

situation where she has to turn away more customers than she can accept for

treatment at the spa. She said she doesn't want to leave the area where the

business began, so she is proposing an expanded facility immediately to the

north of the plaza.

Ms Volpe and her husband, Bob, propose that an 8,000- to 10,000-square-foot

building to house Avance Esthetiques be built on the site. The appearance of

the structure would be more "residential" than "commercial," according to the

Volpes.

P&Z member Heidi Winslow said she opposes creating additional B-1 zoning along

South Main Street, a strip which already holds much commercial zoning.

Ms Winslow pointed out that once a piece of land is rezoned, it becomes

difficult for the P&Z to strictly control its future uses.

Ms Winslow said that while she understands the Volpes' objectives in getting

land rezoned to move a business there, they would have to present a very

compelling case for their zone change request and not have much neighborhood

opposition to the proposal to have it seriously considered.

If P&Z members are willing to consider rezoning the 1.7-acre lot, Avance

Esthetiques would present a formal proposal, Mr Volpe stressed.

P&Z member Daniel Fogliano said the proposal made by the Volpes "sounds

reasonable," but added he would want to review a formal application to the P&Z

before deciding on any request.

Also, P&Z Vice Chairman Thomas Paisley, who was seated as P&Z chairman on

April 17, suggested that the Volpes make a formal submission.

Mr Volpe said he and his wife will return to P&Z members with a formal zone

change application. Zone change applications are heard at public hearings.

Besides a zone change, the Volpes would also need P&Z approval of a site plan

for the business.