Planning commission backs code changes to regulate body‑art facilities and adds 200‑foot buffer from schools, preschools and parks

The Grama City Planning Commission voted Sept. 8 to forward a proposed amendment to Grama City Code §5.14 that would define and regulate "body art facilities," limit their number in the city and place a 200‑foot setback between such facilities and public or private schools, preschools and parks.

Jill, a planning staff member, gave the report and told commissioners the commission had held a public hearing Aug. 5 and discussed the draft at a Sept. 2 meeting. Jill said staff’s recommended edits include clarifying the definition of "body art" to explicitly note ear piercing, changing the term "individuals" to "practitioners" in the body‑art facility definition, and removing permanent cosmetics and microblading from the definition so those practices are not regulated as part of a body‑art facility. She also said the draft limits the number of facilities to two within Grama City, updates parking requirements and states that home‑occupancy operations are not permitted for body‑art businesses in the applicable commercial zones.

The commission spent most of its discussion on where the ordinance should prohibit body‑art facilities. Several commissioners raised concerns about placing a facility immediately adjacent to schools, playgrounds or parks. One commissioner urged the code to include a distance standard rather than leaving proximity guidance open‑ended; another commissioner said mixed‑use zoning—businesses on the ground floor with residences above—makes a blanket prohibition tied to residences impractical.

Commissioners discussed existing local examples and neighboring municipalities. Staff noted that some cities adopt distances of 300 to 600 feet, and that state law imposes specific requirements related to minors but does not mandate the same proximity restrictions the commission was debating. Commissioners also said the city attorney had not reviewed whether a distance restriction would be legally allowable before the meeting.

After discussion the commission agreed to add a 200‑foot restriction measured in a straight line from the nearest entrance of the proposed body‑art facility to the nearest property boundary of the protected use. Jill summarized the agreed language as "200 feet from public or private schools, preschools, and parks." The commission asked staff to reword the home‑occupancy language to make clear the rule applies to the lot and to zones that allow mixed use (the draft limits body‑art facilities to GC, ECC and L‑1 zones).

A commissioner moved "that we give a positive recommendation to the city council for the approval as discussed, including the addition of the 200 feet from public, private schools, parks, and preschools." Another commissioner seconded the motion. The commission voted to forward a positive recommendation; commissioners present voiced their approval.

The commission additionally made a procedural motion to adjourn, which was seconded and carried.

Next steps: the amendment, as recommended by the planning commission, will be forwarded to the Grama City Council for consideration. Commissioners asked staff to seek legal review of the 200‑foot distance language before the council hearing and to finalize any clarifying edits related to mixed‑use and home‑occupancy wording.