After sitting vacant since March 2021, a property located at 1551 E. Spring Valley Road in Richardson will house a massage establishment after a special permit was approved by City Council.

The overview

The Richardson City Plan Commission unanimously recommended approval for the special permit for Relax Foot Spa during its May 16 meeting, according to a memo given to council. During the June 12 meeting, Richardson City Council approved an amended version of the permit that was initially approved by the City Plan Commission in May with a 5-2 vote with Council Members Curtis Dorian and Dan Barrios voting against the approval.

The amended version allows for the massage establishment to operate 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday. Yexiang Li, who will run Relax Foot Spa, must obtain a certificate of occupancy within 180 days, Director of Development Services Sam Chavez said.

Conditions imposed by the special permit only allow Li and one other licensed massage therapist to work in the business, with all required to pass a background check.

Looking back

The location of the business, which is currently under consideration, previously housed a massage parlor called Bamboo Massage Relaxation Center. Bamboo Massage closed because it was being operated unlawfully, Chavez said.

Li obtained a lease for the location in April 2021 but was unable to obtain a certificate of occupancy within six months. Due to the delay, Li had to apply for a special permit that is stipulated for massage establishments by the 2016 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.

Li's translator said Li was not made aware of the special permit regulations when she originally obtained the lease in 2021, which lasted three years. Now that the permit is approved, Li will need to seek a certificate of occupancy within the next 180 days.