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Austintown prohibits massage parlors on Seventy-Six Drive
By Justin Wier
AUSTINTOWN
Massage parlors are no longer allowed to occupy the storefront at 5325 Seventy-six Drive near Interstate 80.
Austintown Township revoked the property’s nonconforming-use classification, citing a history of crimes committed at past massage parlors at that location.
On Dec. 29, 2015, Grace Sciarra was indicted on charges of promoting prostitution, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and money laundering. The indictment said her massage parlor was being used illegally as a brothel. She pleaded guilty to the charges.
On Aug. 11, 2016, Miyong Kim was charged with wearing improper massage clothing, which is defined as unclean clothing, no clothing, transparent clothing or clothing that otherwise reveals the sexual or genital areas of the masseur or masseuse. She also pleaded guilty.
Finally, on July 28, 2016, Uh Suk Cho, Robert Thompson and Song Westphal were indicted on charges of promoting prostitution and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Cho and Westphal also were charged with money laundering. Cho pleaded guilty to money laundering and promoting prostitution, and Thompson pleaded guilty to promoting prostitution.
Westphal’s case is pending.
In a letter addressed to Leber Real Estate Ltd., which owns the property, Zoning Inspector Darren Crivelli said a property must be lawfully occupied to qualify for a nonconforming use and the property at 5325 Seventy-six Drive was a public nuisance.
“This office will no longer issue occupancy permits to operate any type of sexually oriented business at this specific location,” the letter reads.
Leber Real Estate has 20 days to issue an appeal. The letter was dated June 16.
When the township reworked its regulations for sexually oriented businesses in 2001, Crivelli said the storefront at 5325 Seventy-six Drive was granted a nonconforming use because it was in use as a sexually oriented business before the regulations were put in place.
At Monday’s meeting, the township board of trustees voted to deny the massage establishment application of Jean Derrico, who sought to open a massage parlor in the storefront. They also voted to deny two applications for masseuses as well.
The storefront had been unoccupied since the July 28 indictment of Cho, Thompson and Westphal.
Board Chairman Rick Stauffer said Derrico’s application led the board to act.
“It’s a good opportunity to step in,” he said at Monday’s meeting.