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A salon owner who was previously denied from bringing her business to downtown Danville is appealing the decision with the Planning Commission at their next regular meeting.
The space under consideration at 495 Hartz Ave. is currently occupied by Good Common Sense Naturals. The business is seeking to find a replacement in order to be released from its current lease.
Jennifer Hatcher, owner of Maven and Company Collective, applied for a land use permit that would allow her to take over the storefront and expand her Pleasanton-based salon to Danville.
As a rule, ground floor spaces in the Downtown Business District are only allowed to have retail or dining tenants, with the aim of maximizing shoppers and foot traffic in the neighborhood. At the discretion of the chief of planning or by referral to the Planning Commission, however, personal service businesses can be granted land use permits when the businesses occupy no more than 25% of the total ground floor space.
Hatcher’s application was rejected in a letter from the town on Nov. 26, which said that the proposed land use would “adversely affect” the “orderly development of property,” the “preservation of property values and the protection of the tax base” within the town, as well as the policy and goals of the current general plan.
“It is the Town’s position that, while the subject tenant space does not have as much
visibility or as high a volume of foot traffic as the core downtown area along Hartz
Avenue, it is still a prime retail or restaurant location,” Chief of Planning David Crompton wrote in a staff report prepared for the upcoming meeting. “The space is directly visible from Church Street. Without the ability to make a finding that the space is located down a low visibility alleyway or within a courtyard area, it could set precedent for other non-retail or restaurant uses on the ground floor in DBD 1.”
Hatcher contested the findings of the denial letter in an appeal on Dec. 5, which is up for consideration by the Planning Commission this week. Town staff are recommending they vote to reject the appeal.
“We respectfully ask to reconsider the denial and grant approval for our land use permit application,” Hatcher wrote in her appeal. “Our salon will serve as a valuable addition to the Downtown Business District, supporting the local economy, enhancing the pedestrian experience, and contributing to the vibrancy of Danville’s Old Town. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of operation and ensuring that our business aligns with the community’s values and goals.”
The Danville Planning Commission is set to meet at 5 p.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 10). The agenda is available here.
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