People wanting a tattoo will have to get one someplace other than St. Charles.
The St. Charles City Council on Tuesday voted 6-4 against allowing tattoo shops within city limits. The bill failed despite it being amended to only allow tattoo businesses in C2-zoned areas at least 300 feet from a residential district and not on Main Street.
One of the bill's sponsors, Councilman Dave Beckering, Ward 7, gave one last push for the bill before the vote was taken, even though he said certain members already had made up their minds.
"This is conditional use, folks," Beckering said. "So we get to look at them, put conditions on them, and we can limit them, and if we have a problem with them in one year, they're done."
Councilman Richard Veit, Ward 1, was the bill's other sponsor. He pointed out the Planning and Zoning Commission had passed the bill without any of the clarifications that ended up on the final bill.
"Then some folks brought up concerns, and when that happens it usually improves the end product and I think we did that," Veit said. "Ultimately, the biggest point is it's a conditional use. Some people don't trust the council to make the right decision on a conditional use.
"I think whether you like a particular establishment or not - there are certain restaurants I don't like, I don't like the way they smell when you go by them ... but we can't let our personal preferences restrict basically what is trade. We are a city and we should offer all options for our city. All things for all people, that's kind of what a city is."
Mayor Patti York said that even though the bill would have disallowed tattoo shops on Main Street, those shops could move in a block away in the Historic District.
"To me, if it's something the council does want in the city, I think it should be like adult videos and some of the other stores, I think it should be out in the hinterlands, not in the districts we really want to protect," York said.
Councilmen Bob Kneemiller, Ward 4, Larry Muench, Ward 2, Bridget Ohmes, Ward 10, Jerry Reese, Ward 6, Ron Stivison, Ward 9, and Michael Klinghammer, Ward 8, voted against the bill. Beckering, Veit, Michael Weller, Ward 5, and Laurie Feldman, Ward 3 voted in favor.
Wentzville is the only city in St. Charles County that allows tattoo shops. They are also allowed in unincorporated areas of St. Charles County.
Lucky Sinakhom said he tried in vain for years to get a business license to open a shop in St. Charles. He eventually opened Lucky's Tattoo Company on Campus Drive nearby in unincorporated St. Charles County. He said his business is constantly falsely scrutinized because of preconceived notions.
"When I tried to talk to (St. Charles) before, they never considered us a legitimate business and it's shame that St. Charles can't legitimize us as a business," Sinakhom said. "We're performing a legal service. They always refer to us as those kind of businesses. Our business contributes things that are positive."
Sinakhom said when cities ban tattoo shops, potential customers get amateur tattoos instead. He said he welcomes healthy competition.
