How's that for a catchy headline?Sometimes the inspiration just flows...and...well...this is not one of those times.
So here's the skinny...Several years ago, we were hearing a lot of concerns that Old Town was loosing some of the diversity in the variety of businesses that were opening.
Specifically, people were worried that what was occurring in one of our neighboring city's downtown could happen in Old Town. The issue in this city's downtown, which will remain nameless, was becoming over concentrated with one type of business.
Maintaining a good mix of different types of businesses is important for the vitality and the economic success of an area like Old Town. So when we start to hear lots of concerns, we take it seriously.
Zoning laws do many things including regulate development as well as uses (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial...). A community's job is to make sure that those laws remain relevant and do what they were meant to do. Times change and regulations evolve. That's a good thing.
At that time, it was determined that there should be a limitation on new beauty salons, day spas and barbers...and pet grooming (they all fall under the "hair & nails") category and the Zoning Ordinance was amended. As far as zoning, this only applied to buildings on Myrtle Avenue, it didn't change the side streets of Old Town.
In the interim, the recession came and finally went and based on what we observed and heard, it was time to revisit those regulations. So we did.
What was proposed and ultimately approved was amend the City's regulations to make hair & nail businesses permitted by right. On June 2, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2015-03 that did just that...the new law becomes effective in 30 days.
It's like its 2007 again...perhaps, that should have been the headline.
To find out more about how zoning works in Monrovia, take a look at our website.
The staff report and ordinance in all its legalese glory can be found here.
