Tempe Council Continues Appeal of Massage Establishment Permit to March 26

At the start of the Feb. 5 meeting the Tempe City Council considered an appeal of a Development Review Commission approval of a use permit for a massage establishment at 1761 East Warner Road (appellant Matt Smith; original applicant Yin Yoo Shi, LLC). City staff recommended a continuance to allow research into massage license patterns in South Tempe and to evaluate compatibility concerns alongside police input.

Deputy Community Development Director Ryan Le Baque asked the council to continue the matter to a date-certain of March 26, 2026, saying staff would prepare additional research and evaluation (estimated four weeks). Both the appellant, Matt Smith, and the applicant’s representative indicated support for the continuance. Councilmember Burkieti moved to continue the item; Vice Mayor Garland seconded, and the motion passed 7-0.

If the council had not voted to continue, the council would have proceeded to hear the merits that evening; the continuance resets the full appeal hearing to March 26, 2026.