Daytona City Commission To Discuss Proposed Beach Street Tattoo Shop

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Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Beach City Commission (DBCC) will discuss a proposed Beach Street tattoo shop during Wednesday's meeting following a two-week continuation on the controversial subject. During its December 20 meeting, the Commission unanimously voted to move back discussions on the proposed Red Sparrow Studios tattoo shop until its January 3 meeting. The City has been recommended to adopt the ordinance that would rezone a .06 acre property at 246 S. Beach Street from Downtown Redevelopment - Beach Street Retail (RDD-1) to Planned Development-Redevelopment (PD-RD) to allow for the tattoo shop. The shop would be located on the second floor of the building and would operate from 10 AM to 10 PM. The owner of the proposed shop, James Rogers, said that the shop will not display signage that says the word 'tattoo,' which was a major concern expressed by board members and residents. Rogers also said he will only take appointments, will not perform piercings, and will run the business drug and alcohol-free. Rogers said that he has been tattooing in Volusia for 11 years and has successfully managed and operated two shops in the last 5 years. He said that he was unsuccessful at finding another location after looking in New Smyrna Beach and Ormond Beach. The City's Historic Preservation Board and Planning Board recommended approval (4-2) of the ordinance as of September 19 and October 26, respectively. The Downtown Redevelopment Board failed to approve the ordinance on October 3 with a 2-3 vote. According to the minutes from the Planning Board meeting, residents who were present for public comments expressed their concerns about the tattoo shop. The owner of the business next door to the proposed location said he "does not feel this is the right direction for Beach Street." He said he is worried that the tattoo shop will damage the image of Beach Street, especially with the proposed downtown Brown & Brown project. Other residents expressed their support for the tattoo shop. Residents said that Rogers, "is an icon in the tattoo industry" who they believe will bring in significant economic activity with his shop. Others said that attitudes towards tattoos are changing and that the shop would attract "high-end" clients. According to the Historic Preservation Board minutes, 2/3 to 3/4 of the attendees of a neighborhood meeting on the subject were recorded as being opposed to the tattoo shop. It was discussed that the neighborhood would rather the tattoo shop be opened further north on Beach Street. At the Downtown Redevelopment Board meeting, concerns over code compliance and enforcement were brought up after examples of other out-of-code businesses in the area were stated. The DBCC will also vote on an ordinance that would rezone 3.7 acres of land north of W. International Speedway Blvd. and east of Bill France Blvd. from Business Retail-2 (BR-2) to Planned Development-General (PD-G). The switch would allow retail and restaurant uses in the area. Sears Auto Center, near the Volusia Mall, currently occupies the land in question. The Sears Auto Center is expected to be demolished and replaced with restaurants and shops in either a single phase or multiple phases over the next 6 years.

(Image courtesy of the City of Daytona Beach)

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