Planning commission moves to ask council to allow tattoo parlors as a permitted use after public comment

A public commenter urged the Coldwater Planning Commission to require special‑use review for new tattoo shops in the Coldwater area, citing health, safety and business quality concerns, but commissioners voted to ask staff to prepare an amendment that would make tattoo parlors a permitted use and remove proposed location exclusions.

Erin Salinas, speaking during the public comment period on behalf of her husband Jason Salinas, expressed support for a special‑use requirement under the draft ordinance (referenced as ordinance 8‑72 in the record). "It is my opinion that requiring a special use permit to establish a new tattoo shop in the Coldwater area is a benefit to the community," Salinas said. She told commissioners that a special‑use step would filter out operators she described as underqualified, and that limiting locations on US 12 and South Monroe Street would prevent oversaturation in small corridors.

Planning staff told the commission the city council had completed a first reading on the tattoo‑parlor language and that Councilmember Beckwith asked for the commission to review the location restriction. Staff noted the DDA had submitted a letter opposing location exclusions and supporting allowing tattoo parlors "by right" across the downtown district.

After discussion, commissioners asked staff to prepare an amendment to make tattoo parlors a permitted use rather than a special land use and to remove the location exclusion language, then bring that amendment back to the commission and to council. A motion to have staff draft and return with that amendment was seconded and approved by voice vote; the motion carried as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Staff will draft the revised ordinance language and present it at a future planning commission meeting so commissioners can make a formal recommendation to city council.