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Staff seeks direction on zoning and smoking‑ordinance changes for tattoo studios, cigar and hookah lounges
Summary
City planning staff asked commissioners for direction on zoning-code changes to allow tattoo studios by Special Use Permit in certain commercial corridors and to amend the smoking ordinance to permit cigar and hookah lounges under strict ventilation and SUP conditions.
City staff asked commissioners for direction on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance (item 30‑80) and the city’s smoking regulations (Chapter 7‑10) to address several recurring business inquiries: tattoo studios, hookah lounges and cigar lounges.
Staff said the current zoning code effectively prevents tattoo studios from locating in the city because the ordinance only allows them in a commercial/industrial zoning category (BC/heavy commercial) that does not exist in Terrell. Staff proposed allowing tattoo studios by Special Use Permit (SUP) in highway corridor and commercial zones so that the city could review applications case‑by‑case and apply conditions (hours, facade standards, annual inspections, renewals and other restrictions). Commissioners responded that an SUP approach with conditions and annual inspection/renewal requirements would be a reasonable way to manage these uses.
On cigar and hookah lounges, staff noted the city currently has a no‑smoking ordinance (Chapter 7‑10). To allow indoor cigar or hookah lounges, staff said the smoking ordinance would require amendment and that the city should adopt building‑code and ventilation standards used by other cities to separate cigar/hookah ventilation from the main HVAC system and to provide wall separations between smoking areas and adjacent spaces. Staff said they had consulted the fire marshal and building officials and that other Texas cities (Waco, Forney and others) had recently modified ordinances to allow similar businesses under strict ventilation and inspection regimes. Two prospective operators had contacted staff indicating interest; one prospective operator sought downtown location, another sought the Crossroads area.
Staff asked whether commissioners were comfortable with a policy approach that permits tattoo studios via SUP in highway corridor and commercial zones, and permits cigar/hookah lounges via SUP only after the city amends Chapter 7‑10 to require separate ventilation, wall separation, annual SUP renewal, CO and inspections. Commissioners suggested focusing on SUP controls, annual renewals and tenant separation requirements and asked staff to draft ordinance language for future review and possible forwarding to City Council.
No formal vote or ordinance was taken at the meeting; staff will prepare draft ordinance language and recommended standards if the commission gives direction to proceed.
