Thursday morning the City of Lubbock will hear arguments for and against a woman’s plans to use a spare room of her home as a hair salon.
Ronda Hendricks said she has been in the hair business for more than 30 years. She previously owned her own salon but said it became too much work. She is getting married this summer and her family said they would like to see her more. Hendricks and her fiancé purchased a home in Lakeridge, off 92nd and Vicksburg, in August. Hendricks decided the spare living room in the home would be a great place for her salon.
“I went and talked to my immediate neighbors and got their approval,” Hendricks said. “All of them were excited about it.”
We also spoke to the neighbors in her cul-de-sac and confirmed their approval.
Hendricks said her room meets all the requirements set by the Texas Cosmetology Board.
“Which are having an outside entrance to the house,” Hendricks said. “A bathroom and the house has to be shut off from the salon during business hours.”
Hendricks said she will never have more than two clients at a time and they will park in her driveway.
“This particular business is not going to change the atmosphere of the neighborhood at all,” Hendricks said.
That is a statement not everyone agrees with. Some have voiced their concerns over Nextdoor, an online website for neighborhood residents. Hendricks said she tried to ease their concerns.
“I put a letter together on the site explaining the situation because I had the feeling that people don’t know me, so they don’t know what kind of reputation I have, what my intentions were,” Hendricks said.
Some remained unconvinced. Hendricks invited the residents to her home Wednesday night to personally answer questions and give a tour of the room. Hendricks said one person showed up.
We spoke to a woman who opposed the idea over the phone. She did not want to be identified but said she would not accept Hendricks offer. She said she did not want to give her the impression that she was open to the idea.
Residents both for and against the idea were encouraged to attend the Zoning Board Adjustment meeting on Thursday morning at 8:15 in Council Chambers at City Hall. The Zoning Board said they make decisions on a case-by-cases basis and they would hear all arguments.
Those opposed may need a strong showing if they are going to influence the board’s decision. The City of Lubbock Ordinances to do allow for home salons in “R-1” single-family districts.
“I have a lot of friends and clients that live in Lakeridge,” Hendricks said. “So I have more support than I have negativity so I think the few people who are very negative about the situation, don’t really understand how it will work.”
Another concern of some was the influence a home salon would have on property values. Hendricks said that is not an issue.
“With us doing the renovations inside the house and outside the house I believe their property values will only go up,” Hendricks said. “And our immediate neighbors are so excited around us because the house has been an eye sore for years.”
“You’re not going to look at our home or be around our home and know that there is a business in there,” Hendricks continued. “There won’t be any signage or traffic going back and forth that is bad for the neighborhood.”
