City Rules Say Tattoo Biz Signs Can't Say 'Tattoo'
City Rules Say Tattoo Biz Signs Can't Say 'Tattoo'
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
City Rules Say Tattoo Biz Signs Can't Say 'Tattoo'Two Warsaw tattoo parlors were granted special exceptions for their business locations Monday night by Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. But the special exceptions were approved with sign restrictions that Hank’s Tattoo, 3704 Lake City Highway, and Take Action, 938 N. Detroit St., can no longer visibly have signage that says “tattoo,” “body piercing” or “body art” that is visible from the roof, wall, windows or from the road. Hank’s Tattoo is in the Likens Mini Mall building in between Cash Depot and Aldi along U.S. 30. Take Action is by Union Tool on Detroit Street. Warsaw’s building and planning office recommended the board approve both the special exceptions without restrictions. The board put the restrictions in as they felt necessary, according to Jeremy Skinner, city planner. City attorney Mike Valentine did not attend Monday night’s meeting to provide legal counsel as he is on vacation. Hank Hernandez, owner of Hank’s Tattoo, and Jonathan Brown, owner of Take Action, approached the board Monday night with their requests to be allowed to continue to operate their businesses at the current locations. Board member Rick Keeven made the motions to allow the exception for Hank’s Tattoo and Take Action to continue to operate at the locations, but with the signage restrictions. Board member Sean Boylan seconded the motions and board member Tom Allen also voted in favor of the special exceptions with restrictions. Board member Bruce Woodward voted against the motion as presented because he did not feel restricting the business name was appropriate. Board member Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan voted against the special exception because the businesses did not meet the 400-foot requirement for tattoo parlors. The city’s zoning ordinance states tattooing is only allowed as a special exception provided that it is 400 feet from a church building, licensed day care center, public park, school building playground or school parking lot, public library or residentially zoned district. Hank’s Tattoo is 40 feet east of a commercially zoned lot with residential uses. There is a trailer park 380 feet to the east that is residentially zoned. There is 100 feet of railroad to the east of where Take Action stands. Directly behind that is a residential property. During the meeting, Howard Reed, who owns property at 727 N. Detroit St., across the street from Take Action, said he was opposed to allowing the tattoo and body piercing business at the Detroit Street location. He said he felt the business did not fit in with the nearby business image. He said he was not aware Take Action offered tattooing until he went into the business to get concert tickets there for his son. Brown defended his business and said he has brought customers in from locations such as Bloomington, Fort Wayne and Muncie. They in turn spend money at restaurants and gas stations in Warsaw. Hernandez defended his business and said tattooing is a form of art on the skin, and said local emergency personnel have tattoos as well as county officials. In other business, the board approved a request from Woodward to move his existing 18-foot Woodward Realty sign to his new business location. The board approved allowing Woodward to move the sign to his new location at 1928 E. Center St. The board approved the request on the condition that the sign not be lit. Woodward said he has plan of moving his realty business to the East Center Street location. Woodward abstained from the vote.
