Ledyard — The town's Planning and Zoning Commission is considering changes to the town's zoning regulations that would allow a tattoo parlor to open on Route 12 in Gales Ferry.

A public hearing on the changes was opened during the commission's July 13 meeting, but was continued to its Aug. 10 meeting because the commission needs to decide whether it should amend another zoning regulation that bars tattoo shops in town. 

The application, introduced at the commission's June 8 meeting, would allow Emily Soares to open a tattoo parlor at 1598 Route 12, Building 2, Gales Ferry. Her special permit application was accepted by the Planning and Zoning Commission on the same day but the public hearing was delayed to the July meeting to begin discussions on the potential zoning amendment.

Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Mike Cherry said he and other commission members initially thought a tattoo shop would be allowed by special permit as a personal service in town.

However, in reviewing the regulations, he found a note in a schedule of permitted uses that specifically bars tattoo shops in retail use. He and other members of the Planning and Zoning Commission found that confusing because, he said, "I don't think (tattooing) is retail, I think it's a service."

Eric Treaster, a resident of Ledyard who serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals, said the regulation barring tattoo parlors has existed since at least 1987, when he first joined the then-independent Zoning Commission, which later was combined with the Planning Commission.

To fix the discrepancy and simplify the process for businesses, the commission submitted an application that would define a section of the zoning regulations governing "personal services," which the committee defined as "the provision of personal care or other service directly to the ultimate consumer on a one to one basis as walk-in trade or by appointment."

New language introduced would create two tiers of personal services in the regulations. The first includes uses such as tailors and pet-grooming establishments, which would require only a site plan review by the commission.

The second tier would be establishments that "have the ability to create health or safety issues, or cause depressed property values or have other detrimental effects." These would include pawn shops, tattoo and body piercing parlors, fortune tellers and so-called "professional cuddling services." These would need to apply for a special permit. 

Cherry said the commission used zoning language taken from another town's regulations, and kept the reference to "cuddling services," which are platonic businesses that offer companionship, in the application mostly to attract more people to attend the public hearing.

"I don't see a market for cuddling services" in Ledyard, he added, and said it likely would be taken out during the next meeting.

Treaster, speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, pointed to another section of the regulations that specifically prohibits tattoo and body piercing studios, among other prohibited uses, including "methadone clinics, halfway houses and adult entertainment stores." That would conflict with the proposed zoning change.

The Planning and Zoning Commission agreed that it needed to fix any other potential conflicts within the regulations, and agreed to continue the public hearing until Aug. 10.

Soares declined to comment further until the Planning and Zoning Commission makes a decision on her application.

n.lynch@theday.com