Board denies tattoo parlor
By Jamie Ward
Staff Writer
LAWRENCEVILLE - A proposed tattoo parlor to be located at a strip mall on the 700 block of Braselton Highway was denied without prejudice by the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to the delight of nearby homeowners.
Now some of these same homeowners say they still have work to with regards to another business neighbor.
Besides what comes in the future at the 700 block of Braselton Highway, some nearby residents are still irked that an establishment such as the Oz Smoke Shop, located at 759 Braselton Highway, was allowed to open up there in the first place.
'The county doesn't appear to have good guidance with regards to the specific types of items that they sell in that shop,' said Joseph Counter, a resident of Lawrenceville's Pinbrook subdivision who spoke on behalf of many homeowners. 'It may be that this business might of slid through the cracks since there is insufficient detail in the county's ordinance. We don't hold anything against the tenant of the property. But it's not appropriate for this location.'
When the proposed tattoo shop was brought before the planning commission in early November, residents spoke up and out against Oz because they said it was a 'sex shop and a head shop' that didn't belong in the area. They also questioned whether or not it was operating within the boundaries of the zoning ordinance. At the time, Gwinnett County Planning Director Glenn Stephens said the county's Quality of Life Unit would investigate possible infractions.
According to Brian Chandler, the owner of the Oz Smoke Shop, the county kept true to its word.
'The county inspected my store and we went over the county ordinance and laws,' Chandler said in an e-mail. 'I am not breaking any laws or violating any zoning restrictions, nor did I receive any tickets or citations. I have been in this business since 1998 and schmetterling tattoo I've never been ticketed for breaking any laws.'
And that is what Counter and his supporters would like to see changed. Counter said Oz was allowed to open as a gift shop without obtaining a special-use permit. Counter said this allowed Oz to open as something that is an 'inaccurate description of what it is.'
'It appears the county just hasn't done a particularly good job of filtering when it is and when it is not required to have a special-use permit for this particular type of establishment,' Counter said. 'They've done a good job for a number of other categories of businesses, but this one might have slipped through the cracks. The smoke shop got in there under the radar,' he said. 'Apparently our radar needs to get tuned up.'
Chandler defended his business and indianer tattoos said he didn't want any conflict with the local community or the county.
'I just want to run my business and toe ring tattoos provide for my family,' Chandler said. 'I understand some people do not like my store,that is their right. But I do not understand why people would want to close a tax paying business down during such bad economic times.'
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