11-23-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Bill Blesener Little Canada City Council 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 -1600 Council Member John Keis Little Canada City Council 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 -1600 Council Member Rick Montour Little Canada City Council 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 -1600 205 East County Road B -2 #335 Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 November 17, 2005 Council Member Barbara Allen Little Canada City Council 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 -1600 Council Member Jim LaValle Little Canada City Council 515 Little Canada Road East Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 -1600 Re: Application of Brandon Heffron for Zoning Code Text Amendment and Conditional Use Permit to Allow a Tattoo Studio in a B -3 zone, specifically at 2760 Lake Shore Avenue. Dear Mayor Blesener and Members of the Little Canada City Council: Thank you for considering my application. Several concerns were raised at the November 10 Planning Commission public hearing. I felt the need to respond more fully to some of the concerns — for your information. About me. I am 29 years old. I graduated from Forest Lake Senior High School in 1994 and received an Associate of Arts degree from Century College in 1996. I became a committed Christian three years ago through the ministry of Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park. I see my tattoo business as a non - threatening, non - judgmental way to reach people for Christ who don't ordinarily attend church. Last June I married a Roseville girl I met through my church. We live in Little Canada. We have no children. I was trained initially by the artist that did my first major tattoo. The apprenticeship model I followed in my initial and subsequent training is similar in concept to that used by the construction trades. I've worked professionally for eight years, the last four of which have been with the Get To The Point Tattoo studio in White Bear Lake. I've placed among the top three artists in the five -state region at a recent tattoo convention artist competition. I charge $100 per hour for the work I do. For example, a small tattoo may cost $150 to $250; a shoulder -to -wrist "sleeve" tattoo can cost up to $10,000. I have a regional clientele, but some customers are walk -ins. My clientele can include highly respected businessmen, doctors, lawyers, housewives and even grandmothers. Why this location? Several reasons: • First of all, and most importantly, I believe God directed me to this storefront. • The building is owned by Christian Life Ministries and we have compatible ministry objectives. • The storefront became available at the time I was preparing to start my own business. • It was the right -sized space. • The investment fit my available resources. - 1 6 -