Newport passed amendments to its zoning code, which previously did not have a permitted area for tattoo studios.
At its February meeting, the city first discussed the topic; Newport Planning and Building Director Brian Steffen said tattoo shops are considered a protected business class and a First Amendment issue. Therefore, the city must allow them to operate.
The zone the city identified as a permitted use is the area of Newport on the Levee. They will also be allowed in the Central Business District Zone, mostly Monmouth Street, as a conditional use permit, which would require the board of adjustment’s approval.
The conditions by which the board of adjustment would review applicants for the central business district are as follows:
- There must be a 1,000-foot distance requirement between tattoo studios.
- They must be located within their own tenant space.
- Any tattooing or body modification would be shielded from the public’s view.
- Limiting the operating hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The city made one change to its rules since discussing them at a previous meeting.
The regulations previously stated that tattoo shops must be located on the first floor of an existing commercial building. At the Feb. 26 meeting, Newport resident and tattoo artist Erin Blaney said she wanted to open her tattoo studio in the city but felt that requirement would restrict that.
Blaney said she found the perfect space on Monmouth Street for her “small salon-style studio,” but it would be located on the third floor, not the first.
“My takeaway from the planning and zoning meeting was that it would be hidden from the street view, so I thought, you know, the third floor would be great,” Blaney said in February. “So, I am a little confused about the ordinance being about the first floor because that would definitely limit the potential options for spaces that one could open a studio.”
Newport City Manager Tom Fromme said the city removed that requirement after hearing from Blaney.
Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin voted no on the requirements after he said they were too restrictive.
“I’m going to have to vote against this particularly for all of these restrictions put on one business,” he said.
Due to the restriction on tattoo shops being within 1,000 feet of each other, Steffen said there could be a maximum of three in the city’s central business district.
Rechtin asked why the city doesn’t limit other types of businesses from locating within 1,000 feet of one another, giving the example of Schlosser Gunsmithing Co.
“A lot of people feel like gun shops are seedy type things,” he said. “Why wouldn’t we limit 1,000 feet for every gun shop?”
Steffen said the planning and zoning commission could take on that issue if it were brought before them. Specifically, regarding tattoo shops, Steffen said where one goes, others seem to follow, which is why they included that restriction.
Rechtin’s other issue with the rules was that the tattoo studio must be the only business operating in a space.
“We have businesses now that have multiple uses within the framework,” he said. “We have a women’s boutique that has hair dressing, that has a liquor license. Why would we preclude this one from co-locating?”
The intent of the text, Steffen said, is to prevent things like a tattoo shop locating inside of a bar or vice versa.
The city commission voted four to one to pass the regulations. The rules cannot be brought forth to be changed by the board of adjustments.
