Tattoo studio put on hold in Libertyville

The Libertyville village board has put a hold on any "personal services" from opening downtown, including a proposed tattoo studio that had been in the final stages of leasing a vacant storefront.

Two actions taken Tuesday buy the village time to define which businesses constitute a personal service and identify which of those would "ensure the continuing character and stability" for downtown and adjacent commercial areas.

Trustees emphasized the decisions to enact a six-month moratorium and refer the matter to the village's plan commission were not intended to block Crystal Lake artist Mark Hoffmann.

"This is not something aimed at you," Trustee Rich Moras said. "It's important to go through this process, but we do it quickly and expediently."

Moras said the action was "consistent with what we've done with other high-priority issues like electronic message boards."

Hoffmann had been in the home stretch of leasing a vacant storefront at 406 N. Milwaukee Ave. for Dinosaur Studio, which he described as a "higher end" family-friendly establishment.

He said he chose Libertyville because zoning rules don't prohibit tattoo establishments and there already are three in town. The shop would be as much art gallery as tattoo studio and would set the standard for quality and atmosphere, he said.

"I'm a college-educated business artist with a very high ethical standard," he told the board. "My canvass just happens to be human skin."

But the process stalled when building owner Cynthia Chicca learned the board would be considering the moratorium and canceled a scheduled inspection.

In a letter to the board, Chicca, who operates an adjacent business, lauded Hoffmann's business plan and said she had turned down several other prospects she thought were unsuitable.

The current village zoning code permits personal services in certain zoning districts but does not define the term. The village board wants the plan commission to define what businesses should be included in that category and which would be permitted to operate in those zoning districts.

"There would be a public hearing on these types of uses at the plan commission level and then it would come back to the board," Mayor Terry Weppler said.

The commission has been reviewing the entire village code, but this section will be singled out and identified as a priority, he added.

"This (the moratorium) will give them breathing room to finish this. I don't want to impede any business ... by spending a lot of time on this."

Trustee Donna Johnson said the downtown is a draw because of it's atmosphere.

"The wholesome environment is the big selling point. That's always what Libertyville has been and we're trying to maintain that," she said.

Hoffmann, in his address to the board, claimed the village actions constituted "outright discrimination."

"I have to talk to my attorney and see all the options," he said after the meeting. "I'm going to keep looking but I want to be here."