City Council denies zoning request for tattoo parlor

"Not yet" was the sentiment from Aiken City Council members for a request to create zoning for a tattoo parlor within the City limits.

The majority of Council members said they were against creating the zone. Crystal Shreve and Julian McClain asked for the zoning for a business they planned to call the Thoroughbred Tattoo Parlor. The City of Aiken does not have an area zoned for tattoo parlors.

The two also plan to put in a request to the County. Aiken County's zoning ordinance does not allow the businesses, either.

According to City Attorney Gary Smith, when the law was first passed, municipalities were obligated to allow zoning for tattoo parlors; however, an amendment was later added that municipalities have interpreted to mean that zoning does not have to be provided. He said the interpretation has yet to be challenged by the state Supreme Court.

"I think the state has said that we don't have to have a zone for that at this point," said City Councilwoman Jane Vaughters.

Vaughters said she was concerned with how the tattoo parlor would affect neighboring businesses or the property values of nearby homes. She mentioned a friend who owned a shopping center who leased space to a tattoo business. After that was done, Vaughters said, her friend had trouble renting out the space adjacent to the shop.

"My hesitation with this case is how it will affect the people that are already here paying taxes," she said.

City Councilman Dick Smith said he didn't see a reason to make changes to the zoning the City already has in place since it is working. Smith also said that he sees tattoo parlors as one of the things bringing about the "devilution" of our society.

Council denied an ordinance in 2006 that would have allowed tattoo parlors to be permitted in the City's general business zone.

The proposal would have allowed the shops only on major roadways with traffic volumes of more than 25,000 vehicles per day and restricted them from being located within 1,000 feet of a church, school or playground.

Shreve and McClain are not tattoo artists. Shreve told Council members that the two decided to pursue a tattoo parlor as a business venture because they saw a market for the services in Aiken.

If the request was approved, she said, the two would adhere to the state's guidelines for the businesses and would aim to make the shop an asset to the community.

"Every day from close to open, our focus would be that business," Shreve said.

Mayor Fred Cavanaugh said most of his reservations for granting the request stemmed from the fact that Shreve and McClain were not yet certified to run a tattoo parlor. He said if they allowed the zoning and Shreve and McClain changed their minds, the City's hands would be tied.

"Somebody else could come in here, and they wouldn't even have to come to City Council," he said.

"If I had to choose two words - 'not yet,'" said City Councilman Dick Dewar.

Shreve said she was just happy they had a chance to present the proposal to Council.

"If only a seed is planted for further talks, then to me, that's a victory," she said.

Contact April Bailey at abailey@aikenstandard.com.