Body rub parlours in Regina could be restricted to industrial areas if city council approves a proposed amendment to a new zoning bylaw at its meeting next month.
Originally, a city administration report recommended the priorities and planning committee should allow the establishments to also operate in major arterial commercial zones, such as areas along Victoria Avenue. But the committee voted that part down on Wednesday.
The committee also approved allowing massage parlours on a discretionary basis. That means committee and council approval is needed before any parlour opens.
The rest of the report was approved without any changes by the committee. That includes extending body rub parlours’ one-block separation distance to places like parks, enclosed rinks, and public libraries and community centres instead of only schools, churches, daycares and other massage parlours.
City council still has the opportunity at its Dec. 16 meeting to tweak the new zoning bylaw before things are finalized.
After much debate back in September, council voted 6-5 to regulate body rub parlours. Zoning is one of a few details that still needs to be ironed out.
In the new year, city administration is expected to come back with a separate report outlining a proposed licensing framework for body rub parlours as well.