Panel Suggests Tattoo Policy Changes

The Hermosa Beach Planning Commission on Tuesday night decided to move forward with a in the city.

The suggested changes to existing tattoo policy, which will be presented to the council, would require tattoo businesses to:

• Not be within a 100-foot buffer zone around residential property (the zone measurements are from one property line to another;)
• not be within a 200-foot buffer zone around parks, schools;
• ban body piercing;
• operate between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. (the city staff report stated 8 a.m. as the open time, but commissioners confirmed in their meeting that it should have been printed as 10 a.m.)

"This is a text amendment and merely a recommendation [to the City Council] for what we're thinking, and it's all going to be re-publicly noticed and all heard again," explained Commissioner Kent Allen during Tuesday's meeting.

Council members  to conduct a public hearing and consider whether any changes to the city's existing tattoo ordinance could be considered for adoption.

Johnny Anderson, owner of the  on Pier Plaza, asked commissioners not to recommended the restrictions as they could "open the city up to further lawsuits," he said Tuesday.

Anderson sued the city in 2007 after he was denied a permit to open a tattoo studio near PCH and Aviation Boulevard because Hermosa Beach then prohibited the business of tattooing within city limits.

The federal court of appeals , deciding that the city's ban on tattoo parlors was unconstitutional, and that tattoos are protected forms of speech—this was the highest court ruling to date that addresses tattooing and First Amendment protection.

"I’m personally really tired of all the hoopla and the press... and want to get back to work," Anderson told commissioners. "We’ve been open for six months without incident."

Hany Fangary, who lives on the Strand, told commissioners Tuesday that he supported the proposed changes but requested more clarification on buffer zones and operating zones for tattoo studios (see accompanying map.)

He added that the council should be advised to incorporate additional health regulations into its policy discussions, and any changes made to existing policy should affect existing businesses.

As of now, the proposed changes would only affect future businesses if adopted, but the council could discuss including shops that have already opened.

Earlier coverage of the Anderson vs. City of Hermosa Beach lawsuit, and City Council decisions on tattoo policy, on Hermosa Beach Patch: