By Erica Solvig
Enquirer staff writer

DEERFIELD TWP. - Final plans for a beauty salon and spa to join a budding commercial development along Mason-Montgomery Road failed Tuesday night when the two voting trustees couldn't come to a consensus.

Trustee Lee Speidel refused to second Trustee Randy Kuvin's motion to approve the Kim Thal salon, also known as the Kim Harper Salon and Spa, saying that it was "in violation of the entire spirit" of the project. When a vote came to deny the plans, Speidel voted for the denial but Kuvin said no way.

"This is a commercial outlot intended to draw upon the general traffic of the area," Speidel said. "This is an inappropriate use for the office warehouse portion of the project."

Thal, of West Chester Township, was looking for final approval to build a 3,847-square-foot store in Arbor Square, a development anchored by a Kroger store at Mason-Montgomery and Socialville-Fosters roads. Thal said she also had plans for outreach programs, such as helping women who had been in abusive situations get back into the workforce.

The township staff report stated that the proposed salon is a permitted use. The township's zoning commission recommended last month that trustees approve the salon with 10 conditions.

Law Director Doug Miller said because there's no majority, the plans are denied.

Normally, the third trustee, Barbara Wilkens Reed, would be the tie-breaking vote. But Reed has abstained from voting on developments in that corridor because her family has interest in nearby property.

"I'm absolutely shocked," said Thal. "The only concern I had was that I wouldn't be able to have adequate signage. But we even got that passed last month with the township."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com