Tattoo shops currently aren't allowed in downtown Charleston, but that could change in the coming weeks if the city allows an amendment to its zoning ordinance.
Nick Quinn, owner of Black Eagle Tattoo in Kanawha City, has circulated an online petition that seeks to amend Charleston's zoning ordinance to allow tattoo shops in the central business district, also known as the downtown area. Currently tattoo shops are only allowed in C-10 districts of Charleston.
Quinn, who declined to comment on his petition prior to Wednesday's Municipal Planning Commission meeting, wrote in his petition that he and his business partner initially wanted to open their shop downtown, but they were blocked by the zoning ordinance. He's decided since opening Black Eagle that he wants to give downtown another shot.
"Tattooing is a personal service and should be treated as such. While some may still view tattooing as a offensive practice, it is widely accepted as an artistic craft," Quinn wrote in the petition.
The petition has more than 1,500 signatures so far. Quinn said he plans to speak at the commission meeting, where the amendment will be considered.
The proposed amendment would allow tattoo shops in the central business district as a conditional use permit. Multiple tattoo shop or body piercing studios wouldn't be allowed within 1,000 feet of one another and wouldn't be permitted to "perform the acts of tattooing and piercing" within view of the street. A shop would have to be licensed by the state and inspected by the health department before it could get a city business license or certificate of occupancy. The amendment also states shops could only operate between the hours of 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Planning Director Dan Vriendt said tattoo shops weren't listed as a land use category in older zoning ordinances. When the city started to adopt new zoning, it updated its land use table to include those businesses.
"At that time, it was only allowed in the C-10 district. [Those] are kind of sprinkled all over the city," Vriendt said.
He described the C-10 designation as a "general commercial district" and one of the most flexible zoning designations.
Vriendt couldn't recall a particular reason why tattoo shops were not listed as permitted uses in the central business district beyond negative association.
"I think that there has been negative [stigma] associated with tattoo shops, and so I think it was limited to just the general commercial areas," Vriendt said.
Councilwoman Mary Beth Hoover is sponsoring the bill. Hoover, who represents Ward 9 including much of downtown Charleston, said she would support a tattoo shop opening.
"I think we should look at any type of business that wants to come in to downtown or any parts of Charleston and take a look at the type of business it is, and look at the reason why we don't allow them. And maybe that's something that needs to be changed," Hoover said.
Hoover said people are changing their minds about tattoo shops.
"I think the negativity that used to surround shops or tattoo studios is what is changing with millennials and with the 'hipster' type generation," Hoover said.
Vriendt couldn't say whether he thought members of the planning commission would be open to allowing tattoo shops open downtown, but he is interested to hear the discussion.
"I think it's going to be an interesting debate. I think tattoos and the business behind it are becoming more accepted. I think it's a generational thing," Vriendt said. "I'm curious about it myself to see both sides of the argument and see where the chips fall."
The Municipal Planning Commission meets at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the City Services Center.
Reach Rachel Molenda at rachel.molenda@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5102 or follow @rachelmolenda on Twitter.