Planning Commission is OK with New Body Art Studio

With little fanfare and no public comment the Benicia Planning Commission on Thursday gave its blessing to a new art gallery and tattoo parlor at 814 First Street in downtown Benicia.  The tattoo parlor is proposed as an ancillary or secondary use.

The owner of the proposed gallery, Landon Mau, currently runs the business, Creations and Illustrations, at 949 Grant Street where he sees between one and five clients a day.  He plans to have the First Street shop open on Mondays and Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sheri Graf, owner of , spent considerably longer going through the approval process for her hair salon that also has a tattoo parlor as an ancillary use.

Planning Director Charlie Knox says the first time a new use is proposed, it takes longer.  "She (Graf) did all the hard work to make it so body art studios could locate downtown," said Knox.

According to Knox, the body art portion of the business is considered ancillary because it will use a smaller portion of the business than the art gallery.

Asked about the new competition Graf indicated she isn't worried.  "I don't have a problem having another tattoo parlor in town," said Graf.  "I support small business."

For his part, Mau understands the importance of Graf's work to get her shop approved. "She definitely led the way for me," said Mau.

Mau's application for the use permit for his proposed First Street location was received at the Benicia Planning Department on May 3.

Graf is a little unsettled because when she was going through the process of getting her use permit tattoo parlors weren't allowed on First Street but that policy has since changed.

"I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't notified that I could have moved to First Street," said Graf.