Centerville planning commission recommends zoning changes for body art and permanent cosmetics

Centerville Planning Commission members voted unanimously Friday to recommend that the City Council approve zoning code text amendments defining and regulating body art facilities and permanent cosmetics.

Planning staff introduced the item as a return of earlier work: “This is the fourth return of this discussion regarding the zoning code amendment proposal for body art facilities,” said Mr. Eggert, planning staff. The commission voted to send the revised ordinance language and table-of-uses changes to the council for consideration.

The changes discussed add a standalone definition for permanent cosmetics, move permanent cosmetics out of the personal-care-services category, and create or amend multiple zoning sections to show where the uses are permitted or conditional. Staff cited specific code sections under review, including proposed edits to definition and use-table chapters (12.12.40 and 12.36.40) and a proposed new section for body art and permanent cosmetics (noted in the packet as 12.55.260). The commission’s motion asked that 12.62.40 sub c be amended to include permanent cosmetics and that the table of uses show body art facilities as a conditional use in the industrial-medium column and permanent cosmetics as permitted in industrial zones.

Commissioners clarified how the two definitions would interact. Staff said the proposed permanent-cosmetics language reads as a separate definition and “does not include any medical procedures,” and that separating the definitions would prevent overlap with personal-care services. Commissioners discussed whether permanent cosmetics should be treated as a less-intensive use and therefore permitted in commercial zones; after discussion the commission directed that permanent cosmetics be permitted in commercial zones and in the industrial zones as appropriate. The commission also recommended that body art facilities be a conditional use in industrial zones (IH and IM) and that the PDO overlay not be recommended for these uses.

The commission opened a public hearing; no members of the public appeared and no written comments were reported. After additional clarifying remarks from staff and commissioners, a commissioner moved the recommendation as described in the staff report and read on the record; another commissioner seconded. The chair called the vote; the motion passed by unanimous voice vote. The chair said, “That passes unanimously. It’s off to the next stage.”

Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will update the ordinance language to reflect the planning commission’s direction and the item will move to the City Council for public hearing and final action. The commission’s agenda packet identified related follow-ups: a forthcoming conditional-use permit request in a residential zone and an upcoming conceptual site-plan review on a separate project.

Why it matters: the amendments clarify where tattooing, piercing and permanent-cosmetic businesses can locate in Centerville, change how those uses are classified in home-occupation rules, and create a clearer process for conditional-use review in industrial areas.