Council amends Concord Avenue overlay to permit tattoo and body-piercing uses in Subdistrict B with 500-foot buffer condition

Monroe City Council on Sept. 23 approved a text amendment to the Concord Avenue overlay district permitting tattoo parlors and body-piercing establishments in Subdistrict B, subject to conditions recommended by planning staff.

"One of the primary objectives of the Concord Avenue master plan is to create a suitable environment for mixed use development where businesses and residential uses can be located in close proximity to one another," Patrick Blazic of the planning department said. The proposed change revises the permissible-use table (section 6.3.020.1(h) as referenced in staff materials) to add tattoo and body-piercing establishments in Subdistrict B.

Planning staff recommended approval with a condition that the uses be restricted by a 500-foot buffer from certain sensitive uses; staff found the previous unified development ordinance had a similar 500-foot buffer and recommended that approach. Applicants William and Kristen Batts told council they operate a barber shop at the proposed location and have added permanent-makeup and scalp-pigmentation services requiring a tattoo machine. "I'm not a tattoo parlor, but I need that machine," William Batts told council. The Batts said the location is already licensed as a barber and that the additional services are cosmetic in nature.

Council approved a resolution finding land-use and transportation plan compliance and then adopted the zoning amendment and map change by voice vote; the transcript did not record a roll-call tally. Planning staff will implement the buffer and conditions as part of the permitting process.