Massage parlor application does not fit village code - The Suffolk County News

[Nicole Fuentes]

Nicole Fuentes

The Village of Patchogue Zoning and Planning Board held a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 22, for the application of a massage spa.

Zahid Mehmood, the managing agent for Happy Feet Spa, requested permission to open the spa on the premises located at 12 South Ocean Avenue, owned by Joel Furman building, which is currently located in the D3 Business Zone.

“I love this town. I do business in other towns like Stony Brook, Smithtown, and St. James. The idea is to bring more smiles to people and something nice that adds value to the town,” Mehmood said, addressing the board, also noting that the interior will be “relaxing.”

He also noted that the space will be able to service about half a dozen clients at a time with about six to 12 employees. Hours of operation will be Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the request to operate until midnight on weekends.

Also, according to Mehmood, though the manger on site will be licensed, none of the employees will be, nor are they required to in any of his other locations. Rather, they are internally trained.

However, according to board member Eva Rodriguez-Greguski, New York State requires anyone being called a “masseuse” or “massage therapist” to be licensed.

Additionally, according to the village counsel, the current village code does not allow unlicensed massage parlors in the current zoning and thus would require this application to seek a zone change from the village board of trustees.

The meeting was then adjourned and forwarded to the board pending an application for a zone change. If not, board member Dennis Logan said, the application would be denied.