Farmington City Council OKs downtown tattoo shop
Farmington City Council OKs downtown tattoo shop
06/23/2010
by Steve Lynn
The Daily Times
FARMINGTON — City councilors approved a permit for a tattoo shop downtown despite some opposition and concerns about whether the shop would fit with downtown redevelopment plans.
Eternal Color Tattoo will be able to operate at 221 W. Main St. following Tuesday night's 2-1 vote. The owners, Eldon Lee and Christie Massey, must reapply after a one-year trial period.
Massey promised that the shop would fit the character of downtown. Artists will tattoo people out of sight from people outside the shop, she said.
Massey described her business as "upscale" and not a "back-street tattoo place."
"We want something very nice downtown," Massey said. "We want to be a productive business."
Councilors Dan Darnell and Mary Fischer voted yes; Councilwoman Gayla McCulloch voted no. Councilman Jason Sandel was absent.
The shop must "maintain the appearance of a downtown street frontage" and signs cannot display adult or graphic images, according to the city.
The tattoo parlor faced some resistance.
"If we are shaping and moving the downtown area into a family-type setting where we are wanting families to come and spend time strolling the downtown area, I feel that a tattoo business may not fit into that design," My Father's House church Pastor Bob Moon wrote to the city.
The city is requiring the tattoo shop to close during church services at My Father's House.
The shop also faced tough questioning from city councilors and Mayor Tommy Roberts, who wanted to make sure it fit with city plans to redevelop downtown.
Elizabeth Isenberg, the city's downtown coordinator, welcomed the shop.
"It's warm bodies downtown and another business, which we desperately need," she said.
Votes:11
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