Norm Wright said he believes the clientele of his Glen Burnie tattoo parlor would not associate with convicts and degenerates.
“There?s nothing unsavory about me or my customers,” said Wright, owner of Art With a Pulse on Delaware Avenue, adding he has tattooed businessmen and government employees.
But the stigma surrounding tattoo parlors and certain other businesses has led to a proposal to ban such establishments in town centers.
“It?s not the kind of businesses that should saturate the town centers. … I just don?t want to see one on every block,” said Councilman Ed Middlebrooks, R-District 2, who sponsored a county bill banning future tattoo parlors, arcades, pool halls, body piercing salons and those who operate psychic, tarot card and palm reading businesses from the county?s town centers.
There are three “town centers” ? special zoning areas intended to promote high-density, mixed-used development ? in Glen Burnie, Odenton and Parole.
Middlebrooks said members of the Glen Burnie TownCenter Advisory Committee were concerned about a proliferation of such businesses.
He added that decades ago, some businesses drew in a criminal element and hurt economic development in the area.
“This bill will try to make sure we don?t regress and become like that again,” Middlebrooks said.
Though the bill would not shut down his businesses or other tattoo parlors, Wright said blaming all tattoo parlors and pool halls for bringing crime and lower land value is unfair to legitimate businesses.
“It?s another way of discrimination,” Wright said.
“I had to give a detailed presentation on how my business would operate before I could even move in.”
But Wright and other business owners could benefit from the bill.
Councilman Daryl Jones, D-District 1, said during this week?s council work session that such prohibitions might give pre-existing businesses a monopoly in highly trafficked areas.
Michael Livingston, chairman of the town center committee and president of the Bank of Glen Burnie, said the committee has not taken a position on the issue.
The county administration is neutral on the bill, said Larry Tom, the county?s planning and zoning director.
The Odenton Town Center would not be affected, because it has special zoning separate from countywide policies, officials said.
“What we are trying to achieve is a town center that is family-oriented,” said Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4.
The council will hold a public hearing at Tuesday?s council meeting.
