BZA tables vote on proposed tattoo studio

Friday, October 4, 2013

The ink may not yet be dry on a proposal to locate a tattoo studio in the business and professional building at 813 E. Franklin St., Greencastle.

The Castle City Tattoo project, proposed by Rachel Walker, went before the Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals for approval of a special exception use variance at the October BZA meeting.

Just like many other businesses or even entities like schools and churches, a tattoo parlor is an allowable use of business-zoned property within the city. However, the Zoning Board addresses such projects on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not the special exception is a proper fit relative to such matters as hours, traffic and lighting at the site in question.

Thus, uncertain if all affected property and business owners in the area surrounding the building -- which also houses Beltone, Cross Cuts and Dr. Park Firebaugh's dental office -- had received adequate notice of the proposal, the BZA tabled the matter Tuesday night.

The BZA could have legally voted on the project then but chose to let discretion be the better part of valor and delay action until the notification issue was deemed satisfactory.

Some nearby property owners reportedly received notice only the day before the meeting even though certified mail receipts showed the cards had mailed much earlier and by the prescribed deadline.

"I feel like I was blindsided," Cindy Gobert Jones of Cross Cuts commented from the audience.

As required, Walker sent certified mail notices by the imposed deadline to all affected property owners on a list supplied by the plat office in the courthouse. However, it soon became apparent that not everyone had been notified when Jan Firebaugh, who resides at 817 E. Franklin St., said neither her home nor business -- both adjacent to the property in question -- had received notice of the proposal.

A 2004 Greencastle High School graduate, Walker and her husband have returned to community due to his job with Phoenix Closures.

"We want to raise a family here, so I wouldn't do anything to hurt that," she said, addressing questions about planned operations at the tattoo studio.

The site sits a stone's throw from her parents' business, Greencastle Veterinary Clinic, on East Washington Street. She said she wants to emulate the successful small business Drs. Karen Davies and John Helmers have operated.

Hours of operation for the tattoo business, which restricts its ink to those 18 and over, would be 12-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday in the west-end part of the building last occupied by a dental lab.

Walker told the BZA and a number of area residents present at City Hall that she will not allow smoking out in front of the building, either by visitors or anyone working for her. Likewise, she promised to strictly prohibit any loitering in the parking area.

The parking lot, however, became a point of contention with its limited spaces available for the entire building.

The tattoo studio would need three spaces on its own (two for clientele and one for the proprietor). The entire building was said to offer only seven spots.

"I think parking is a huge issue in that small space," Firebaugh said in asking the BZA to take that into consideration.

However, City Attorney Laurie Hardwick advised the audience and the board that a number of businesses that generate far more traffic and a greater need for parking are considered permitted uses and could move into the building right now without even an appearance before the BZA.

In fact, City Planner Shannon Norman pointed out, the building -- constructed well before the city zoning ordinance was rewritten in 2003 -- is already in a "non-conforming situation" since current regulations would require at least two more parking spaces for the total 1,800-square-foot structure.

Walker, who ran a licensed tattoo business in Louisville (Indiana requires no such licensing) before returning home, advised that no alterations to the building are planned.

"Why did you chose this location when there seem to be other areas with better traffic flow?" Firebaugh asked Walker.

"I thought it was a great spot," Walker replied, suggesting the location offers easy landmarks such as Dairy Castle, Kroger and the stoplights to guide customers to the site.

BZA Chairman Donnie Watson recommended tabling the matter and John Phillips made that an official motion that received unanimous approval from the board (Doris Miller and Wayne Lewis adding consent).

The fifth board member, Scott Davis, was absent.

The next regularly scheduled session of the BZA will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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  • Who owns the building? It seems they should not be allowed to rent the space if it isn't in compliance with the parking ordinance. I just wonder if it would be an issue if it were anything other than a tattoo shop trying to get in.

    -- Posted by donna.ford10 on Sun, Oct 6, 2013, at 12:33 PM
  • Parking is always challenging there as it is.

    -- Posted by Geologist on Sun, Oct 6, 2013, at 8:44 PM
  • A tattoo shop owned by an educated and talented woman sounds incredible. I think it would be a great thing!

    -- Posted by Apollo13 on Mon, Nov 4, 2013, at 11:44 PM
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