The Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted to deny an application for a private, appointment‑only tattoo studio at 475 Locust Street.

Applicant Jaylen (spelled in the record as Jalyn/Jalen/Jay Lynn) Anderson told the board she purchased the mixed‑use property intending to operate a single‑artist, owner‑occupied tattoo studio with hours roughly 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday and no walk‑ins. Anderson said she would live above the storefront and expected most clients to park on‑street near the building.

Borough Council President Heather Zink testified that the borough revised its zoning ordinance earlier in the year to define a tattoo parlor and to locate that use in the Highway Commercial district in response to downtown merchants’ concerns about the concentration of such businesses. Zink told the board the ordinance amendment was worked on in spring and adopted unanimously by council in late August, and she said the borough did not see that Anderson had shown a hardship that would justify an exception for a downtown storefront.

The planning commission presented a contrasting view at the hearing: commissioners said they recommended the variance because the proposal — an owner‑occupied business on the first floor with residence above and appointment‑only service — fits the borough’s comp plan objective for downtown first‑floor businesses. The planning commission noted, however, that it had not fully examined parking issues at its review.

Solicitor Jozelle Cleary reminded the board that, by statute, the board must base its decision on the evidence presented at the hearing. After questions from board members and public attendees about parking, the settlement date for the property purchase, and the proposed sign and hours, the board closed the record and took a roll call vote. The motion to deny the application (application reference cited in the record as 251306) passed on the roll call.

The board did not adopt detailed written conditions at the hearing. Members said the denial reflected the ordinance change and the absence of an identified hardship or other showing sufficient to overcome the new locational restriction. The board recorded that the property postings were completed on December 22 and that it may render a written decision within 45 days if it takes the matter under advisement.

The hearing record includes testimony from Anderson, the borough council president, the mayor and planning commission representatives, and members of the public who asked questions about parking and the viability of retail uses on the storefront.

The board’s decision leaves the zoning restriction — which places tattoo parlors in Highway Commercial — intact for the downtown property. Any appeal of the zoning hearing board’s decision would need to be filed in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas as provided by law.