http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/warsaw-parlors-forced-to-remove-tattoo-signs
WARSAW, Ind. (WANE) - The Board of Zoning Appeals in Warsaw has put an unusual restriction on two tattoo parlors: They can't use the word "tattoo" or any other advertisement outside their building.
Board member Thomas Allen voted for the restriction. He said both tattoo parlors are currently in violation of a city ordinance. The shops sit within 400 feet of a residential area, just nobody realized it.
Members approved a special exception to keep the two parlors in their current locations. The stores are now, in a sense, grandfathered in. But new restrictions were issued for outdoor signs.
Tim Dombrosky is Warsaw’s assistant city planner. He said the city didn’t recommend the decision.
“Some board members felt like it did substantially injure a neighboring property and that restricting their signage would help alleviate that,” said Dombrosky.
Hank Hernandez has owned Hank's Tattoo in Warsaw for about a decade. His store is one of the parlors supposed to take down its outdoor signs. Outraged by the decision, Hernandez has teamed up with the ACLU to fight it. He calls it anti-business, unconstitutional, and discrimination against tattoo parlors.
“I'm not going to pay to take that down and then to turn around and have to put it back up because of the people's ignorance on what the word tattoo means," said Hernandez.
According to the city, the two parlors have about 10 days to take down their signs. But Hernandez said he will fight the restrictions every step of the way.
“If somebody wants to take my arm and make me take that down then so be it, but I am still in the process of appealing this,” said Hernandez.
The mayor-appointed Board of Zoning Appeals also ruled that either parlor will be shut down with a change in ownership.
