For about 10 years, Sauna Suites offered private sauna sessions on Eastern Avenue. Then it had to close, even though nothing about the business had changed.

Now it's on a path to reopening. On Oct. 13, Chelsea's Zoning Board of Appeals granted Sauna Suites a special permit to operate at 311 Eastern Ave., according to Chelsea Massachusetts News.

What Sauna Suites offers

The business calls itself "Boston's Only Private Sauna Experience" on its website. The site describes private, self check-in suites with an infrared sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy and a lounge. Guests can book one to four hours for one to four people, the site says.

At the Zoning Board meeting, Steven McDonough, who spoke for the business, said it would be open by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It serves individuals and couples. He said nothing about the operation is changing.

Why it closed

The problem was a permit, not the sauna.

Sauna Suites had been allowed as an accessory use to a gym at the same address. When the gym was sold, the two became separate businesses sharing one occupancy permit. That no longer met the rules, so the sauna needed a special permit of its own, Chelsea Massachusetts News reported in September.

A city planner described the situation as "two technically separate uses but one occupancy permit." The September report said nothing had been added or changed at the site. It also said the operator wasn't blamed for the problem.

"Not sure why we got shut down so suddenly, but we just want to reopen," McDonough told the Zoning Board.

Quick approvals

City boards moved fast once the case came before them.

On Sept. 22, the Planning Board unanimously recommended the special permit with standard conditions. The discussion took about two and a half minutes, according to the September report. The city's planning department also recommended approval.

The Zoning Board then granted the permit on Oct. 13. The report didn't give a vote count or list any conditions.

What happens next

The approval isn't the final step. The city has about 14 days to file the written decision. A 20-day appeal period follows. After that, the business can complete its occupancy process.

The same Zoning Board meeting included decisions on several other projects, including a delay on the proposed Walmart delivery depot on Webster Avenue.

What to watch

We haven't confirmed a reopening date. The reports don't name the owner; McDonough spoke for the business at the hearing. The details on the website may reflect how the business ran before it closed. Customers should watch Sauna Suites' website for reopening news.