Buffalo Grove strengthens ordinance on massage businesses

Buffalo Grove trustees have approved a measure that would impose a 24-month ban on certain massage establishments opening in a location where another massage business had its license revoked.

The new ordinance was proposed after concerns over prostitution violations at an establishment on Weiland Road that subsequently lost its license.

If a license is revoked, the ban would be triggered by four provisions under the ordinance: Fraud in the license application; conviction of the licensee of the provisions relating to the license, the subject matter of the license, or

to the premises occupied; refusal to permit inspections or investigations; and constituting a nuisance or clear and present danger to the public.

At a previous meeting, trustees were concerned the language reached beyond its main aim of combating prostitution and could have an adverse effect on property owners by including non-related violations.

At Monday's meeting, trustees still had concerns about one revocation provision, known as No. 9, that would trigger the ban if "(t)he license or the business is not in compliance with any provision of the Buffalo Grove Municipal Code, state or federal laws, rules or regulations."

Trustee Jeffrey Berman said such a provision "would sweep in a whole bunch of things that have nothing to do with the kind of offenses that are driving this particular initiative."

For instance, he said, violations of the electrical or plumbing codes could lead to a 24-month blackout on the commercial property owner.

The board approved the ordinance after eliminating the No. 9 provision.