Zoning ordinance may get makeover to include salons
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Waynesboro hair stylists may be allowed to open shop in professional districts again.

The city's planning commission recommended revamping the zoning ordinance to include hair salons in those districts on a caseby case basis; and city council will hold a hearing Oct. 19 to take public comments.

City officials have been toying with the change since mid-July when Patricia "PJ" Powell filed a variance to move her salon to a professionally zoned house on Liberty Street.

While the move would have been permissible several years ago, that's no longer the case.

In 2003, city council overhauled its zoning ordinance based on a model provided by the Georgia Regional Development Center (RDC). In that model, hair stylists were excluded from the city's pro- fessional districts, which traditionally accommodate physicians, lawyers, insurance agents and accountants.

However, hair salons that were already established in professional districts, such as the Hair Doctor on Fourth Street, were grand-fathered in.

Originally, officials presumed the appeals board could make the decision regarding Ms. Powell's business.

But her request got bumped up the chain of command after city attorney Chris Dube determined that council would have to actually amend their zoning laws, following two public hearings.

During Monday night's council meeting, Ms. Powell aired her frustrations, explaining that she'd been waiting for an answer since summer and her business was, subsequently, left in limbo.

She said her potential purchase is hinged on council's decision, and indicated that city officials have been putting her off.

"My question is 'how long do I have to wait?" she asked.

While council didn't give her an exact answer, Ms. Powell will be waiting at least seven more weeks, according to Georgia law.

"The only way to allow (Ms. Powell) to move her salon is to literally change the ordinance," Coalson said. And that, by law, requires two public hearings and two readings.

The first hearing will be held Oct. 19, followed by council's first reading of the amended ordinance.

The next hearing will be Nov. 20, followed by city council's second reading and a decision as to whether or not to adopt the amended ordinance.

If it is adopted, hair stylists will be allowed to establish businesses in professional districts based on case-by-case approval from the appeals board.