Owners at Unique Ink Custom Tattooing have a unique challenge ahead.
With business booming at the Clapperton Street shop, Andrew Batten says he planned to move to a new, larger location on Dunlop Street.
The move hit a roadblock, however, when a bylaw exemption granted by the city was appealed by a former downtown businessman, forcing an Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
“This is crazy,” said Unique Ink owner Andrew Batten.
“We did everything we had to do and the committee of adjustment approved it with a vote of three out of three.”
An OMB hearing will be held April 1 in Barrie – one month after the lease expires at the current location and Batten says the delay is costing him over $5,000 a month.
“We are paying rent on both locations until it is resolved,” he said, looking down the road to his new shop site.
The city's Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw amended in 2011, requires 100-metre distance between tattoo parlours, body piercing parlours, pawn shops or payday loan establishments downtown and Batten's new location is beside a payday loan shop.
His application was approved by the committee because it “falls within the intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw and is minor in nature and is in keeping with the character of the surrounding neighbourhood.”
Batten calls the relocation “a big step up” to a building that is wheel chair accessible, meets current fire codes and adds space to expand business and add staff.
“I don’t know what his issue is. He said ‘a bylaw is a bylaw’ and that’s it.”
Unique Ink's application is supported by the Downtown Barrie BIA, has a green light from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit and support from local city councillor Rose Romita.
The Downtown Barrie Neighbourhoods Association supports the appeal, arguing the bylaw is in place and should be applied to every application.
“I agree that there shouldn’t be tattoo shops on every corner, but we aren't asking to open another shop,” Batten said. “We just want to expand and build our business.”
He disagrees with the bylaw being enforced “across the board”.
“I think the appeal is about wanting Old Barrie to continue and the fact is that old Barrie is gone," he said.
"It’s time for old Barrie to move out and let a new generation in.”
Paying double rent and additional bills, “is putting my business in jeopardy and this is how I feed my kids. It’s how I live.”
Batten has collected a stack of support letters from downtown business owners and a petition – available online and at the shop – now over 2,000 signatures.
The online petition is available here
