The City Planning Committee met Thursday night to consider an amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow a body art/tattoo parlor. The petitioner, Shawn Ratley, was seeking to place the business in either the downtown, neighborhood business, or community business districts.
Ratley is the manager of Time Loan Company. Committee members asked him numerous questions including where specifically he sought to place the business (he didn’t know), his business experience, number of employees, as well as how many customers he would expect to be there at one time.
Ratley said there would be two employees, one of them his wife. He said he didn’t anticipate being more than six people in the building at one time. There would be a waiting area but also partitions to allow for customer privacy. He assured members no one under 18 would be admitted.
He mentioned various business experience, including with insurance. He said they had received OSHA certification. Ratley said his wife (who would serve as primary artist) had experience with art as well as body art. She was certified in both bloodborne pathogens as well as CPR.
Ratley made a personal appeal to the committee, mentioning how he loved living in Cochran. He said he wanted to offer “Cochran prices” to those seeking tattoos or tattoo removal, so they wouldn’t have to travel to places like Macon and Warner Robins.
Two people spoke in favor of approval. Both mentioned how important it would be to have the option to have the studio locally as opposed to having to travel out of town. Ultimately, the committee voted to recommend issuing a conditional use permit.
Their reasoning was more information was needed (such as location of the studio),, plus they wanted to provide those near the location a chance to offer feedback on the business being there. The recommendation will go before city council at their meeting July 13 at 7 pm. Another public hearing will be held on the matter.
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