Fairhope, Alabama
TO BE ALLOWED DOWNTOWN AFTER ALL?
Tuesday night, the city council decided not to enact new zoning restrictions previously approved by the Planning Commission (click) that would have prohibited tattoo studios, pawn shops, payday-type loan stores, palm readers, and the like from locating downtown.
Instead, they are considering allowing such establishments downtown, but only if they are over 275' from residential neighborhoods.
The location of the only such establishment now existing, Man o War Tattoo Inc, would be allowed.
[The two existing loan stores on Greeno Rd. -- one near Winn Dixie and the other Rite Aide -- would also be permitted.]
The council is also re-considering the allowed distance between such places; and the requirement they be 275' from schools and churches (reducing both).
Mayor Kant, who supported the ordinance as-is in his capacity as a Planning Commission member said any changes should be finalized by Friday, so they could be advertised in local newspapers as required by law (in time for the next council meeting).
Kant: "We were trying to be consistent with other cities who are passing similar ordinances (Gulf Shores, Foley, etc.) ... Spanish Fort outlawed everything completely ... ."
Kant: "The biggest issue is ... we need to make sure all businesses have a spot in zoning ... where they can go ... ."
Kant did not indicate if he intended to veto the proposed ordinance , should the changes eventually be passed by a majority of the council.
TO BE ALLOWED DOWNTOWN AFTER ALL?
Tuesday night, the city council decided not to enact new zoning restrictions previously approved by the Planning Commission (click) that would have prohibited tattoo studios, pawn shops, payday-type loan stores, palm readers, and the like from locating downtown.
Instead, they are considering allowing such establishments downtown, but only if they are over 275' from residential neighborhoods.
The location of the only such establishment now existing, Man o War Tattoo Inc, would be allowed.
[The two existing loan stores on Greeno Rd. -- one near Winn Dixie and the other Rite Aide -- would also be permitted.]
The council is also re-considering the allowed distance between such places; and the requirement they be 275' from schools and churches (reducing both).
Mayor Kant, who supported the ordinance as-is in his capacity as a Planning Commission member said any changes should be finalized by Friday, so they could be advertised in local newspapers as required by law (in time for the next council meeting).
Kant: "We were trying to be consistent with other cities who are passing similar ordinances (Gulf Shores, Foley, etc.) ... Spanish Fort outlawed everything completely ... ."
Kant: "The biggest issue is ... we need to make sure all businesses have a spot in zoning ... where they can go ... ."
Kant did not indicate if he intended to veto the proposed ordinance , should the changes eventually be passed by a majority of the council.
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