In a report before the planning commission on Sept. 14, associate planner Lata Vasudevan said the purpose of the zoning ordinance amendment was to ensure a good mix of uses for people coming downtown. Vasudevan estimated that there were already 16 personal service businesses in the Village.

Vasudevan's report defined a personal service business as one that sells any personal convenience services directly to the public. These include barbers, beauty and nail salons, hair removal/replacement, piercing, tattoos, psychics, cleaners, tailors, dog grooming, yoga studios, fitness centers and other services of a similar nature. The definition does not include travel agencies, insurance offices, law offices or any type of office use.

The definition for personal service businesses is an expanded version of the term "service establishments" that appears in the city code.

Since 2003, personal service businesses have been prohibited from opening in the Village at street level with primary access from Big Basin Way. The ban expires Oct. 14.

With the planning commission's adoption of the zoning ordinance amendment, personal service businesses may apply for a conditional use permit subject to approval by the commission. The application for a conditional use permit costs $2,500. In contrast, a retail business is required to pay $100 for a business license and is not subject to review by the planning commission.

Commissioner Mike Uhl stated that the ordinance was not a restriction but was closing a loophole. He said that it is important for the city to review what businesses are coming to the Village.

Commissioner Robert Kundtz said the zoning ordinance amendment made sense for the revitalization of the business climate in the Village.

Commissioner Jill Hunter voted for the ordinance amendment but took issue with a statement in the city report concerning a lack of economic vitality in the Village. "I know it's the prevalent idea but I know it's not true," she said.

Commissioner Linda Rodgers was the sole dissenting vote. "Decisions will be made by businesses responding to consumers," Rodgers explained. "You have to allow a little bit of play for the marketplace to make decisions."

Rodgers said that she wants retailers in the Village to succeed but that she's not sure personal service businesses should be treated differently than other businesses. "At some point we're going to have to determine what type of Village we want," she said. "Do we want to have services there or have as much retail as possible? I'm not sure Saratoga as a community has made that decision yet."