City To Review Tattoo Parlor Zoning Ordinance Tonight
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw City Council tonight will review its zoning ordinance that currently does not allow tattoo parlors in commercial and industrial zoned districts without exceptions. The council meets at 7 p.m. at city hall. Tattoo parlors are current allowed as a special exception in C-2, C-3 and C-5 commercial districts, and I-2, and I-3 industrial districts. The city’s current zoning ordinance states tattooing is only allowed as a special exception provided that is is 400 feet from a church building, licensed day care center, public park, school building playground, school parking lot, public library or residentially zoned district. The ordinance the city council will review tonight, if approved, would allow tattoo parlors as permitted uses in C-3 and C-5 commercial zoned districts, and industrial 2 and 3 districts. Warsaw City Planner Jeremy Skinner said the council will not approve the ordinance tonight, but will review the ordinance that would allow tattoo parlors in commercial and industrial districts as permitted uses. The council will then send the ordinance to Warsaw Plan Commission to review at its June 13 meeting at 7 p.m. at city hall. The plan commission will then send recommendations back to the city council to review. Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals, at its May 23 meeting, granted special exceptions to Hank’s Tattoo, 3704 Lake City Highway, and Take Action, 938 N. Detroit St., Warsaw, to continue to be located at the sites. However, the board approved the special exceptions with restrictions that the businesses 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. During the May zoning board meeting, board member Rick Keeven made the motion to allow the exceptions for Hank’s Tattoo and Take Action to continue to operate at the locations, but with signage restrictions. Board member Sean Boyland 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.
