Tattoo shop OK in zoning revision

Published 9:37 pm Monday, March 11, 2019

NEDERLAND — The City Council voted 4-0 Monday to allow C-2 zoning to include tattoo parlors with special-use permits. Ward 2 Councilmember Billy Neal, who voted against the public hearing at the last council meeting, voted in favor.

At the February meeting, Neal opposed a public hearing on the matter, saying he could not vote for anything having to do with tattoos.

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The specific-use permit allows the councilmembers to set limits on the business such as operating hours, signage and making the parlor by appointment only.

The issue arose when Brian Little sold his building located at 2826 Avenue H to his son-in-law, who is trying to turn the building, zoned C-2, into a tattoo parlor.

The City Council held a public hearing for the property owner and landowners who live within 200 feet of the building to speak to the council members before they made a decision. Three residents showed up to speak at the public hearing and all of them said they were in favor of the parlor.

Little owned the building as a site for a hair salon and lived in the home directly behind the building.

“I’m very aware of the neighborhood and all of the neighbors that are there,” Little said. “I would not place something in my building that I feel like would affect one person negatively. My generation, my dad’s generation and my grandfather’s generation went to tattoo parlors. This is not a tattoo parlor. He is an artist.”

Ward 1 Councilmember Talmadge Austin vouched for Little.

“I’ve known this family for many years,” Austin said. “They are good people. What Brian tells you, you can count on it being true.”

Nederland City Manager Chris Duque said the city has most restrictive zoning requirements regarding tattoo parlors in the area.

“When we met with them in December, we were a little apprehensive,” Duque said. “The more we talked to them, the more comfortable we’ve become. We spoke to a lot of our neighboring cities about how they treat tattoo parlors. They treat them like any other personal services business — like a hair salon or nail salon.”

While the Planning and Zoning Commission already voted unanimously to allow tattoo parlors to seek special-use permits for C-2 buildings, the commission will meet March 19 to discuss the specific business on Avenue H.

Councilmembers will use their recommendation to make a decision during their next meeting on March 25.