Springboro weighing massage business moratorium - MyDaytonDailyNews

[massage]

Springboro and other local communities are trying to slow the uptick in massage businesses opening in the area.


The Springboro City Council will consider Thursday approving a 90-day moratorium on the opening of new businesses offering massages, and it will seek to develop local regulations for new and existing ones.

Springboro Police Chief Jeff Kruithoff said the regulations were related to the opening of a second storefront massage parlor in town. The moves would be similar to steps taken by other communities such as Mason and Montgomery.

In November, a female employee of a massage parlor in the Cincinnati suburb of Montgomery was charged with prostitution after a police sting.

“Frankly this is an industry that has had problems around the country,” Kruithoff said.

The Springboro massage businesses on Main Street and Central Avenue have generated no complaints, he said.

In January, North Olmsted, a community west of Cleveland, tightened its regulations and clarified that its local rules did not apply to therapeutic massage businesses and other similar businesses licensed by the state.

At this point, Springboro has no regulations related to massage businesses, Kruithoff said.

The newest business offering massages in Springboro, according to Kruithoff, is Luna Massage, located in a shopping center on Central Avenue.

Attempts to contact the operators of the Springboro businesses - Luna Massage as well as Eden Massage on North Main Street - were unsuccessful Wednesday.

Susan Woolf, owner of Therapeutic Massage, was surprised to learn of the proposed moratorium and potential city regulation of massage businesses.

“I’ve been practicing here for 12 years,” said Woolf said, who operates from a local residence.

Law Director Alan Schaeffer said, “the city is simply taking a pro-active approach to cover not only the existing establishments but any new establishments.”

The regulations would be developed and recommended for passage by the city council.

The moratorium “for any type of massage service establishments or similar use” would be lifted, once the regulations are in place, Schaeffer said.

The council meeting begins with a 6 p.m. work session before a formal meeting, beginning at 7 p.m. at Springboro City Hall, 320 W. Central Ave, Ohio 73 in Springboro.

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