SUWANEE - Suwanee city council members are considering an update to the city' massage parlor ordinance, an "indirect" response to recent criminal activity reported at several local massage establishments.
Council has considered the update for more than a month, and it would add language to the code that would force an establishment to remain closed for 12 months if it is shut down due to ordinance violations, said Marty Allen, city manager.
"We had an incident at a local establishment that caused us to put a set of eyes on our ordinances and modernize them," said Allen.
A Suwanee massage parlor owner was arrested on sexual assault charges in February, accused of assaulting two women.
Council will also consider a contract on Tuesday a contract for a design team to explore the possibilities of developing what they call "Town Center West," the property located behind the library adjacent Town Center Park.
"We've owned (the property) for well over a decade," said Allen. "We're in the process of hiring an architecture and engineering firm to master plan the property."
The contract, approximately $48,000, would go to Clark Patterson Lee, a firm which lists one of its offices in Suwanee.
"We estimate it'll be a four- to six-month time frame" to complete the work, Allen said.
There will be meetings for the public to provide their input throughout the process, but Allen said they have not hammered out the exact schedule of when those opportunities will be.
