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Grover Beach denies tattoo parlor on Grand

By Josh Petray/Staff Writer

A tattoo and body piercing parlor and art gallery proposed for 201 W. Grand Ave. in Grover Beach will have to find another location to establish itself on the Central Coast.

On a 2-1 vote, with Larry Versaw recusing himself and Chuck Ashton dissenting, the City Council upheld an appeal of the project filed by John Koepf, owner of the neighboring Beach Place Development Complex.

Versaw recuses himself from all appeals of Planning Commission decisions because his wife, Arlene, is a commissioner.

Koepf appealed the Planning Commission’s decision to approve a use permit and coastal development permit for the business proposed for a vacant commercial building at the corner of West Grand Avenue and Second Street.

“I definitely was disappointed to not get approved for building,” said applicant Joshua Hibbard, owner of Manekin Tattoo in Bakersfield. “I really hold my standards high with my business. It was going to be classy. My place, it’s a beautiful, beautiful place.”

Hibbard said he is still looking to change locations within San Luis Obispo County from his Bakersfield base.

At issue last week was whether Koepf’s appeal was filed on time and whether the tattoo and body piercing parlor and art gallery was an appropriate use for the coastal visitor services district.

The uses “tattoo parlor” and “body piercing” were not listed as a use in the district, so the Planning Commission had the discretion to decide whether the uses are appropriate, according to a city staff report.

According to Koepf, whose business lies at 260 W. Grand Ave., the use is inconsistent with those permitted in the coastal visitor services district and the business would impact the visitor-serving coastal resource.

According to Hibbard, the tattoo parlor would be similar to barber shops, beauty shops and tanning salons, all permitted uses in that zoning district.

However, Koepf said the use is inconsistent with the city’s effort to create a gateway to the city at West Grand Avenue and Highway 1, according to a city staff report.

The area also serves as a northern gateway to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

In upholding the appeal, the City Council found it was filed on time and that the proposed use was inappropriate for the district.

Hibbard said he’s received numerous calls from the public and Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce members suggesting alternate locations.

“That was the absolute perfect building for me,” said Hibbard. “Now, they want to help me get the ‘perfect building,’ but I just lost it because of this unfortunate situation.

“It’s just really weird and confusing,” he added. “So now we’re just saving our money, regathering everything, and hopefully we’ll find a place that we can afford.”

Josh Petray can be reached at jpetray@timespressrecorder.com.