FAIRHOPE — A group of Fairhope residents supporting a businessman hoping to open a tattoo studio downtown packed City Council chambers at Monday night’s meeting to protest a proposed ordinance that could prevent the business from operating.

City Councilman Rick Kingrea recently commented to a local television reporter that he was concerned about a tattoo parlor bringing undesirable elements to the city, likening the tattoo industry to adult entertainment and motorcycle gangs.

Pete Blohme, owner of Panini Pete’s Cafe, told the council, “I think there are just some massive misconceptions about what a tattoo parlor is. I wouldn’t consider myself undesirable. I have seven tattoos, including some that nobody knows about.”

Kevin Black, owner of the planned tattoo studio at debate, said that he was “first and foremost, an artist.”

“I grew up right here in Fairhope; I was raised and encouraged to go forth and be an artist,” said Black. “I am a product of this community, which prides itself on fostering the arts.”

Black went on to ask who present at the meeting supported him, and around 50 people raised their hands and applauded. Black then asked Mayor Tim Kant and the City Council which of those people were undesirable and unwanted in the city.

One local resident who was not among those with their hands raised was Amy Stubler, who lives across from the proposed parlor. Stubler said the business would be near a residential area, and neighbors are opposed to it and afraid the tattoo studio would become associated with drug use.

Black told the council he didn’t want to have to go down this road, but that he had retained legal counsel.

“I am fully prepared to follow this to its logical end, and I promise you, the law is on my side.”

Kant and Kingrea propose ordinance

Black’s planned tattoo parlor would be located at 212 Magnolia Ave., but a week before he was set to open, the zoning board rejected his application for a business license.

Black said he went through all the necessary steps, including obtaining health permits. The issue was to be discussed at the Board of Adjustment meeting last month, but was delayed for another month at Kant’s request.

Kant and Kingrea proposed an ordinance to temporarily stop issuing business licenses to tattoo studios, among certain others, until a zoning ordinance could be developed to address these types of businesses.

The ordinance would have put a six-month moratorium on issuing business licenses to body art and tattooing studios, permanent makeup establishments, body piercing facilities and adult entertainment businesses within the corporate limits of the city for the “health, safety and general welfare of the people.”

After a heated debate on the artistic nature of tattoos, or lack thereof for some, the city council decided to set aside the ordinance, allowing the licensure to take its normal course.

Zoning at issue

Black wants to set up his tattoo parlor on a site that is zoned B-2, for general business use, which includes beauty and barber shops.

There is a permanent makeup business already operating in the downtown Fairhope area, along with numerous salons and barber shops.

The zoning ordinance states that general business use is “activities causing noise and heavy traffic not considered compatible in the more restrictive business district.” That more restrictive business district, B-1, is a “local shopping district,” designed for residential areas.

Council members declined to vote on the moratorium because they determined it should be a planning and zoning issue. Black’s proposed tattoo parlor request now goes to the Board of Adjustments, which meets Monday, at 5 p.m., in council chambers.