A discussion on tattoo parlors on the Maplewood planning and zoning committee agenda for Monday night turned into a unanimous approval vote.
Committee member Bill McDonald said he asked business owners in the Special Business District if they thought having a tattoo parlor would benefit their business. He reported they thought it wouldn’t hurt their businesses, but wouldn’t help either.
The committee voted unanimously to add a tattoo parlor (including body piercing) as a permissible use in a “light manufacturing” zoned area. City staff will draft an ordinance to be considered by the city council.
This article was reported by Nancy Miner.
As a tiny expansion of my comments, my question to business owners, patrons and employees in the so-called “Manchester Strip” intentionally asked them to set aside judgments about whether tattoos/piercings were good or bad, but did they feel tattoos/piercing was like the other businesses along Manchester. Are tattoo/piercing shops like Pensey’s, Scheit Hardware, Salon Lofts, Jimmy Johns or the Post? Most respondents said they weren’t. They didn’t feel like the addition of tattoo/piercing shops was necessary to support or enhance existing businesses along Manchester. Many also felt the addition of tattoo/piercing shops would alter the current “flavor” of the special business district.
As I said elsewhere, a tattoo shop offers professional services related to personal appearance, not unlike a hair salon. We have a hair salon on the Manchester Strip. This would not be significantly different than that.