Windsor OKs tanning salons, bans other businesses in Town Green
Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 9:05 p.m.
Smoke shops, tattoo parlors, fortune tellers and bail bondsmen will not be allowed to do business in Windsor’s Town Green Village, but tanning salons won’t be barred.
In response to upset tanning studio owners and patrons, the Windsor Town Council on Wednesday exempted indoor tanning places from a list of potential businesses that would be confined to special commercial zones, away from the Town Green.
“It’s highly offensive anyone would think you’re doing anything illicit, or immoral in a tanning bed, behind closed doors,” said Laura Barnthouse of Windsor, who said she requires the ultra-violet treatments to ward off “season affective disorder.”
“It beats taking anti-depressants,” she told the council.
On a 4-1 vote, with Councilman Sam Salmon dissenting, the Town Council approved an ordinance that confines a half-dozen types of businesses, including check-cashing places and massage parlors, to three zoning districts. The council decided to drop tanning salons and spas from the proposed list.
“I’m helping people feel good about themselves,” Julie Durkey, owner of Bronze tanning studio on Hembree Lane, told council members. She said her studio in the Shiloh Center attracts 4,000 customers monthly. Eighty percent are women, she said, and among the male customers are many police officers and firefighters.
The new ordinance was triggered by the opening of a smoke shop last year in a prominent spot in Town Green Village.
Alarmed by the bongs and drug-related merchandise offered for sale just steps away from students walking to and from the high school, the council imposed a two-year moratorium on new smoke shops in town. Other businesses seen as potentially causing blight, or eroding Windsor’s family-friendly atmosphere, were included in the moratorium.
Officials said the intent was to avoid a “skid row” appearance that the proliferation of such businesses could create.
The smoke shop in Town Green Village closed a year ago after the landlord evicted the operators, who did not reopen in Windsor.
Councilwoman Debora Fudge noted Wednesday that the extra scrutiny and zoning restrictions the new ordinance provides is also intended to avoid the type of experience she had several years ago. A massage business located under her new campaign office was raided by police for suspected prostitution activity.
In voting against the ordinance, Councilman Salmon said it goes too far and is too subjective in trying to identify “what activities are possibly nefarious and what aren’t.”
Psychics and palm readers “don’t frighten me,” he said, adding that it is also unfair to single out bail bond and check-cashing businesses.
Town planners said they also heard complaints from bail bondsmen about being included in the new ordinance.
Over the past year, town planners have worked on an ordinance that would allow such “special services” businesses to locate in Windsor, but only in “community commercial” and “service commercial” zones.
They include shopping centers such as Safeway and Raley’s, parts of Old Redwood Highway and a pocket of Shiloh Road west of Conde Lane.
On Wednesday, the council expanded the zones to include “gateway commercial” areas, which include the Shiloh Center, central part of Windsor and an area north of Arata Lane.
Associate Planner Pauletta Cangson said the intent of the ordinance was to find an area where the businesses could operate and be easily monitored, but not too close to residences or schools.
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