Moore Council finds fewer tattoo parlors in their city a remarkably good idea

Transcript Staff Writer

MOORE -- City councilman Terry Cavnar can do without them.

It's pretty obvious he's not thrilled by them.

In fact, given the opportunity he'd prefer they go someplace else.

Just what is it Cavnar doesn't want?

PAC 10 football officials?

Used car salesmen?

A franchise selling Oregon Ducks sweatshirts?

No, tattoo studios.

And last week, Cavnar made sure the issues surrounding tattooing were well discussed at the Moore City Council meeting. "I don't see why it would better the city of Moore to have them (tattoo studios) come here," he said during the meeting. "I don't want 'em here."

With a state law legalizing tattooing and body piercing as of Nov. 1, city officials began amending ordinances to recognize and allow the businesses within city limits.

Well, sort of.

Community Development director Elizabeth Jones presented a proposed ordinance -- which paralleled the new state law governing both types of businesses -- to commissioners for their approval. The ordinance, 556(06), added tattoo and body piercing parlors to the city's list of approved retail sales and services. "We based our ordinance on the new state law," Jones said.

But it was obvious the seven-member council would have rather discussed the geo-political problems facing the Middle East than tattooing. Still, council members passed the proposal by a 6-1 vote.

Cavnar voted no.

But it was the companion ordinance -- 555(06) -- that drew the most fire. That ordinance, Jones said, would have allowed tattooing in several commercial zones in the city, including the C3 commercial zone which covers professional business such as insurance agents and doctor's offices.

And that, Cavnar believes, is wrong.

"I don't want to see a tattoo parlor next to a local dentist," he told The Transcript this week. "I think we can be a little bit selective on what goes in there."

However, Moore resident Max Ross, said it's that perception -- not the tattooing business, itself -- that is wrong.

Ross, who owns Norman's Hall of Tattoos, described his studio as a cultural center which offers jewelry, art and tattooing to area residents. "We operate a very respectable business," he said. "We exceed all the standards set by the state. It's a very professional operation."

In fact, Ross said his Norman location has been so successful that he wants to open a second tattoo studio in Moore. "In Norman, we had our grand opening in June. And since then business has been wonderful. The community has just been awesome. We have a real diverse set of customers -- 80 percent of them are over the age of 25," he said.

That success, Ross said, made him want to expand into Moore. Ross is seeking to locate his studio in a former convenience store at 1301 North Janeway; that studio, Ross believes, would be the first one in the community.

"Moore is a great community. It's a great place to raise your kids. I live there, my kids go to school there, I serve on the PTA there -- and I'd like to have a business there, he said. "But I'm afraid they're trying to ordinance me out of the city."

While Ross says he's already contacted city officials about what would be required to locate a tattoo studio there, he knows his toughest job will be convincing the city council.

"If you come to my store in Norman, I will change your perception about tattoo studios," he said. "We have a wonderful local artist, Michael Wilson. We feature art, jewelry and all sorts of things. It's a very mixed cultural bag."

However, even with the eclectic blend of art and culture, Cavnar said Moore officials "must be careful" about where businesses such as tattoo studios are located. "Moore is doing extremely well right now. We're trying to get the best possible exposure for the city."

Cavnar said some of his concerns -- like those of Economic Development Director Dedra Ebrey -- were based on issues posed by large national retailers.

"Many times, a big national retailer won't locate next to a business such as a tattoo studio," Ebrey said. "It's because they draw a much different demographic and their hours are so different. We have the same type of problems with some businesses not wanting to locate next to gyms."

Hence, the issue with zoning.

Community development director Elizabeth Jones told commissioners that city staff struggled with how to classify tattoo parlors, micropigmentation and body piercing centers. "In many communities we contacted, the ordinances governing tattooing were classified under the same rules as a cosmetic procedure," she said. "However, I don't agree with that. Our ordinance is in the same category that includes pawn shops and blood and plasma donation centers."

Cavnar said that classification was more in line with his views.

"I'm not on the warpath against tattoo parlors," he said. "But I don't believe they belong in the same commercial zone as a doctor's office."

City manager Steve Eddy said staff members had "wrestled with the issue" and suggested the council approve the current ordinance, then amend at a later meeting to make it "permissive" -- which would require hearings before the city planning commission and the city council before any tattoo or body piercing studio could do business in Moore.

"If you make it permissive use, it would have to be decided on a case-by-case basis," he said.

Council members endorsed the idea, passing the ordinance by a 7-0 vote and vowing to make additional changes later. "If we come back and make changes like that, I won't have a problem with it," Cavnar said. "I just want to be real careful about how we handle economic development."

Still, given the choice, Cavnar would rather not have tattoo parlors in northern Cleveland County.

"Naw, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they never came back," he said. "But if we have a tattoo parlor that's kept up and clean and neat, then I'm not gonna lose any sleep about it."

Ross said that's exactly what he's trying to do.

"I want to assure them (the city council) that I would run a respectable business," he said. "Come November 1, my studio will be regulated by the state; it's not like I'm doing something wrong. I'm trying to provide a service to the community."

Given the chance, Ross says, he'll invest in the location, refurbish it, and "everything will look great and be done on a professional level."

But it's unfortunate right now, he says, that people don't see the whole picture.

"I understand their concerns, I really do," he said. "I'm trying to change that perception with my attitude. But right now, I'm in limbo. It's a wait-and-see thing. I'm very happy to answer their questions and work with them; but I don't have any answers because they haven't given me any."

Those answers could come soon.

With a new state law on the horizon, city commissioners will have to move quickly to to change zoning requirements. "We'll get it figured out," Cavnar said. "I'm very willing to work with people. I just want to make sure we do things in the right way."

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com