Celina City Council denied the plans in a 3-4 vote at its meeting June 10.
What happened?
The City Council held a public hearing on the proposed permit at its June 10 meeting.
Residents spoke in favor and in opposition to the tattoo studio, which would have been called Liberty or Death.
Dennis and Kimberly Dent, who were applying for the permit, both said they operate professionally at their other Celina business and would do the same with Liberty or Death.
Two residents who live near the proposed establishment turned out in opposition to the tattoo studio and said they had a problem with it being so close to residential areas downtown.
The background
The Dents own body piercing studios in both Celina and Frisco called The Pin Cushion. The duo requested a permit to open a tattoo studio in Celina.
It would have been located at the northwest corner of Louisiana Drive and Beech Street and been open until 8 p.m.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the permit in May after receiving no feedback during a public hearing on the proposed business.
City staff also recommended approval of the permit but received feedback from one resident in opposition to the tattoo studio.
What they said
The council was divided on the item..
Mayor Ryan Tubbs said the downtown area is meant to have a mixture of commercial and residential uses.
“If we are talking about sticking to our downtown master plan, getting that investment in downtown, I think that's exactly what this investment is,” Tubbs said.
Others, like City Council member Andy Hopkins, said they heard from residents that the location was not appropriate for a tattoo studio.
