FAIRHOPE, Ala. – On July 11, the City Council removed a proposed prohibition on tattoo parlors in the Fairhope Central Business District. 

The amended law separates tattoo parlors from body-piercing studios, non-chartered financial institutions, palm readers, and pawn shops, by allowing them in the downtown business area.

What does this mean?

For Frank Thrasher and Kevin Black of Man O’ War Tattoo, it means that their newly built location at 319 ½ Fairhope Ave. in downtown Fairhope has been legitimized.

At the council meeting, they showed their approval through applause as the new law was passed.

“A year ago I came to Fairhope to raise my children,” said Thrasher, a military veteran and tattoo artist who wanted to continue his profession as an artist in Fairhope.

“A good friend once told me that art is the only place where people can see the real me,” he said.

Thrasher invited the public to visit their business and see what it is they do there and how.

“Before you say anything, you should go see it,” Council President Jack Burrell said. “You can practically eat off the floor it’s so clean.”

The approved ordinance states that “body-piercing studios, non-chartered financial institutions, palm readers, pawn shops, and tattoo parlors are only allowed in the B-2 (general business) District.”

It also states that the businesses mentioned “shall not be located within 275 linear feet of residential zoned areas, places of worship, schools, the city of Fairhope Central Business District or public parks.”

But tattoo parlors are treated separately in site requirements for such businesses. The new law states that “tattoo parlors shall not be located within 275 linear feet of residential zoned areas, places of worship, schools or public parks.” This distinction in the ordinance-- that is, by not prohibiting them in the downtown business area—allows tattoo parlors to be located in the Fairhope Central Business District so long as as they comply with site requirements.

The law also states that “the minimum distance between (such similar businesses) hall be 1,000 linear feet.”

So, another tattoo parlor would have to be at least 1,000 feet away from the only one currently existing in the city at Man O' War Tattoo.

After the council meeting, Mayor Tim Kant shook Thrasher’s hand and said he was glad that everything worked out for his shop.

Other action

In other business:

• The mayor:

• Announced a trip to Ocean Springs, Miss., for Wednesday morning, to see how the city converted a public school into the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center of Arts and Education to get ideas for what to do about Fairhope’s vacant K-1 center.

• Visited a park in Fairhope with Gov. Bentley and discussed the possibility of getting a portion of the $429,000 left in budget from the Gulf oil spill for that park. Troy University did a study that stated $5 million was lost in revenue in Fairhope.

• Alabama Communities of Excellence

• This program is geared towards making a community grow in an orderly and strategic way.

• Fairhope has been chosen as one of six communities to participate in this program

• Step one : community assessment forms may be found at cofairhope.com/news_full.php?detail=1&news_id=169

• Resolution to purchase two transformers for the electric department in the amount of $17,371.00 was approved.

• Resolution to purchase two submersible pumps for the sewer department in the amount of $37,885.00. was approved.

• A motion to deny all bids was approved regarding the Pecan Avenue Building HVAC renovation. The project will be re-opened for bids during the fall.

• Resolution authorizing Mayor Kant to go forward with the bid process for upgrades of multimedia equipment in the Giddens Conference Center at the Fairhope Public Library and bring back recommendations to the council was approved. Kant said these upgrades should be in place before Nov. 1.