Illinois Town's Leadership Divided Over Allowing Tattoo Shops

The clash between new and old seems to be happening in Illinois.

Elmhurst, a Chicago suburb, is re-evaluating their policy that does not allow tattoo shops within the city.

Currently, Elmhurst does not allow tattoo shops but after a city council meeting this week, they're looking at making it possible, though still very stringent.

The rules would limit tattoo shops to specific zones and tattoo services can be part of businesses like a beauty salon, spa, tanning or nail salons, or medical offices.

A tattoo operation cannot exceed 150 sq. ft. with only one chair and cannot be located in downtown Elmhurst or the Spring Road district.

"Nothing Scary About Me"

Most of the city council is against the new rules.

But they heard from Lance Neilson, who runs a tattoo shop in Bensenville (which is 10 minutes from Elmhurst).

He said that limiting the space to be that small and to make it an accessory service is "extremely irresponsible and dangerous, which may be hyperbole, but that's what I believe".

Also, on the new rules letting tattoo services be part of businesses, Elmhurst resident Emily Quinn said they would help her expand her business in a commercial district. She says under the new rules she could do remembrance tattoos, areola restoration, and art around burn scars.

Alderwoman Jennifer Veremis, who drafted the new proposal and has 2 tattoos herself, said she's trying to find "middle ground" with it.

Alderman Jacob Hill called not allowing tattoo shops "antiquated notions", saying:

I see us as dealing with some antiquated notions about what the character of Elmhurst is, how we look at body modification...We're supposed to be representative of our constituency and increasingly that is our constituency. When we talk about the character of Elmhurst, I think the character of Elmhurst may be changing when we're looking the other way.

The city council rejected the code revision that would allow tattoo shops in commercial areas, as well as the downtown and Spring Road districts, by a vote of 8-5.

The commission's chairwoman, Susan Rose, said that Elmhurst's current ban on tattoo shops reflects a "vague prejudice" against them.

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