BZA petition withdrawn for tattoo shop special exception

A for-rent sign has gone back up in front of the business and professional building along East Franklin Street in Greencastle.

And the December Greencastle Board of Zoning Appeals meeting has been canceled.

Two separate but nonetheless related events.

For the story behind the story is that the zoning petition for Castle City Tattoo, submitted by Rachael Walker at the October BZA meeting, has been withdrawn.

City Planner Shannon Norman confirmed that in an email announcing cancellation of Tuesday night's scheduled BZA meeting at City Hall.

Walker told the Banner Graphic Monday morning that she has withdrawn the petition for 813 E. Franklin St. but that does not mean her business idea is dead.

"I do hope to get another building," she said. "I'm actively looking for other buildings."

Walker had gone before the board in October, seeking approval for a special exception use variance for a tattoo shop at 813 E. Franklin St.

It would have been located in the westernmost section of the two-building business and professional development (Beltone, Cross Cuts, etc.) along the north side of Franklin Street, just west of Kroger. The building is owned by Robert and Jane Best.

A tattoo parlor, along with several other commercial activities or even entities like schools and churches, is considered an allowable use of business-zoned property within the city. However, such proposals are addressed on a case-by-case (i.e., special exception) basis to determine if they are a proper fit relative to issues such as business hours, traffic and on-site lighting.

City Attorney Laurie Hardwick even advised that a number of other operations known to generate far more traffic and with a greater need for parking are permitted uses on the site and could move into the building without even an appearance before the BZA.

The BZA could have legally voted on the project at its October meeting (the November meeting was canceled as well), but after some notification issues arose, it chose to delay action.

Walker, a 2004 Greencastle High School graduate who ran a licensed tattoo business in Louisville (Indiana requires no such licensing), was asked why she chose the setting she did.

She suggested the site offered easy landmarks such as Kroger, Dairy Castle and stoplights to guide patrons to it.

Now with no business listed on its December agenda, the BZA has canceled its meeting. The next regularly scheduled session of the board will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Donnie Watson chairs the Greencastle BZA with John Phillips, Doris Miller, Wayne Lewis and Scott Davis as members.