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The City Council has called for a moratorium on massage parlors on University Avenue saying there are already more than enough and that they don’t fit in with a family-oriented atmosphere.  

The recommendation, from Councilmembers Dona Spring and Margaret Breland, was sent to the planning commission which will consider a possible moratorium on the parlors, which Spring said are often associated with the adult entertainment business.  

The commission will consider other solutions besides a moratorium including a complete ban on adult-oriented businesses or a more stringent application and permit process. There are currently no pending applications for new parlors on University Avenue, according to planning department officials. 

The council approved the referral by a vote of 7-1, with Councilmember Betty Olds voting against. Mayor Shirley Dean was not present. 

Spring said the parlors don’t fit in with the still pending University Avenue Plan which calls for prohibiting new liquor stores, auto shops and adult-oriented businesses. Acting Director of Planning and Development, Wendy Cosin, said the plan should be adopted by next year. 

Spring said there are already four adult-oriented establishments in a four block area and there is no need for anymore.  

“We’re building a lot of residential apartment buildings along University and we should be encouraging more community-oriented businesses like grocery stores, dentist offices and all-purpose book stores,” she said. 

The four existing businesses mentioned in the recommendation were Tiki’s Hawaiian Massage, Auquette Massage, The Berkeley Sauna and Berkeley Massage and Self Healing Center.  

Spring said the healing center was a reputable business and that there was no massage offered at the Berkeley Sauna though they are both adult-oriented businesses. 

She said she knew less about what occurred at Tiki’s Hawaiian or Auquette Massage. “I don’t know what they do. I just know they’re not a family oriented businesses, all you see is men coming and going from them.” 

Councilmember Olds strongly opposed the moratorium saying that the parlors may not fit in with the University Plan but are still tax paying businesses. 

“They still provide services for a lot of people because they stay in business,” she said. “This is yet again another case of Big Sister telling everybody what to do, how to run their business and its disgusting.” 

She added that many massage establishments are legitimate and should not be discouraged. 

Spring said she put the recommendation on the agenda when a University Avenue neighbor called her to complain that a massage parlor had opened up in an commercial space that had previously been a dentist’s office.  

According to Cosin, the business does not have a license to operate as a massage parlor. “The use was described as skin, face and body care at the time the permit was issued,” she said. 

A woman who answered the phone at the alleged massage parlor, the Thai Body Works, said the business does not offer massage, only facials. However, a nameless company with the same address using the same phone number is listed in the massage section of the San Francisco Chronicle’s classified section among other massage advertisements with names like “Beautiful Loving Massage,” “Green Door Massage,” and “Kitty’s Massage.” 

Cosin said the issue has not yet been placed on the Planning Commission’s agenda.