Planning Board approves body art establishment zoning bylaw

Aug. 6, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — The town of East Longmeadow is inching closer to establishing rules and regulations that would allow body art businesses to operate.

Planning Director Robyn Macdonald confirmed to Reminder Publications that the Planning Board voted to send a zoning bylaw to town meeting that would allow such establishments to exist in business zones, provided that the site is not within 500 feet of a church or a public school.

The vote was 4-1 in favor with Michael Przybylowicz casting the negative vote.

"The bylaw also allows the use by right," Macdonald explained. "It will no longer require a special permit."

Residents at the Special Town Meeting, which has been scheduled for Oct. 1, must now approve the bylaw change.

Macdonald said that, as with all bylaw changes set to go before the town, a public hearing must take place, but no date has been set.

"The only regulation regarding public hearings is they have to take place within six months of the town meeting. Most likely we wouldn't schedule a meeting until the beginning of September," Macdonald said. "I like to have the public hearings as close to the town meeting as possible so that it is fresh in everyone's mind."

In addition to the zoning issue, the town must also create health regulations regarding body art establishments.

Board of Selectman chair Jack Villamaino said the selectmen, acting as the Board of Health, expected to discuss and possibly vote to implement those regulations at its Aug. 7 meeting, which will take place at East Longmeadow High School because of the selectmen's involvement in the National Night Out, which is also scheduled for that evening.

"We had received a set of draft regulations, which we forwarded to town counsel [James Donahue] for his review. After that, we sent the draft to the Planning Board to get their input on it because we have been working hand in hand with them on this," Villamaino said. "Barring any significant objections, I think we will be able to move forward."

Unlike the zoning changes, the health regulations do not need to be approved at a town meeting.

"The town is empowered through the Board of Health to make or change regulations," Villamaino said.

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