Bingo hall gets nod, tattoo studio denied at P&Z board meeting

Crystal Brown CNHI

WEATHERFORD —  

A conditional use permit for a bingo hall was approved and a permit for a tattoo parlor denied at Wednesday’s planning and zoning meeting.

Shad Robertson, owner of R&R Real Estate Development, applied for a conditional use permit to transform a portion of the old Luskys store at 2201 Tin Top Road into a bingo and banquette hall. He told members of the P&Z his intentions are to use the bingo facility for fundraising purposes only and any food brought on the property would be catered.

“My goal is to not lease this out to run a traditional type of bingo hall,” he said.

Parent teacher associations from Tison Middle School, Ikard Elementary and Curtis Elementary and a local church have expressed interest in having charity bingo, Robertson said.

Gary Tatem, owner of the RV park directly behind Robertson’s property, expressed concern to the board about noise levels, alcohol and possible late hours.

“I think Mr. Tatem has a legitimate concern,” board member Nita Whiteside said. “But the owner of the property has addressed that this is more of a 7 to 9 p.m. activity, and the organizations he listed — I don’t think they’ll be having parties until 2 o’clock in the morning.”

The board then turned down a request for a conditional use permit to operate a tattoo studio at 208 Santa Fe Drive.

After reviewing comment cards from surrounding property owners, board member Darren Clark elaborated on people’s concerns of the area becoming a “late-night hangout.”

“If you drive by the other tattoo shop on Fort Worth Highway at 9 or 10 o’clock at night, people are hanging out,” he said. “That seems acceptable in that area, but I’m not sure about this area with it being so close to a residential neighborhood.”

Judy Hayhurst agreed and added emphasis to the historical nature of the homes and businesses near by.

“A lot of people are working hard to make improvements to the area,” she said. “There are other tattoo parlors on the outskirts. I don’t think this is the best place to have that kind of businesses.

Tattoo artist Judy Dobbs addressed the board’s concerns about hours and loitering. She said her businesses is upscale and caters to an older crowd, not the younger group who tends to use tattoo studios as a hangout. Most of her clientele are women age 45 to 50, and her art is mostly equestrian, she said.

“My businesses is different than old-school tattoo studios with people sitting up front smoking,” she said. “That’s not my crowd.”

As she passed around a portfolio of her work for the board to review, Dobbs said she planned to operate her shop from 2 p.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. and be closed on Sundays.

Whiteside then made a motion to deny the request, but Clark changed his mind.

“Listening to the applicant, I like the idea of the upscale nature of the studio,” Clark said. “If she runs this right, I don’t think it would be an issue to the neighbors. Looking and her portfolio and listening to her, I think she plans on running it right.”

The board denied the request 4-3 with Clark, Gene Burks and board chair Brad Felmey opposed to the action.

The board also approved a zoning change for 850 W. Park Ave. from single family residential, two-family residential and general retail to agriculture.

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