Item 8A 16-SAFW-133AGENDA ITEM:
CrTY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
16-SAFW-133
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
Reque st f ()J' a waiver as perm itted by Section 24-4 6(d) to waive the
prohibition of body artists within the Commercia l Genera l zoning d istrict
as required by Scctio n 24-lll (b) at Sa lt air Section 3, Lot s 810 to 8 16 and
838 to 840 (aka 469 Atlantic Bo ul evard, Uni t II).
SUBMITTED BY: Derek W. Reeve s, Plann er / ,4--
DATE: Au gust 4, 2016
STRA TEGTC PLAN LINK: None
BACI<GROUND: The appli ca nts are Georgina and j ohn Salzer who own a nd op e rate Pure Im agination.
The business will offer body piercing services and sell associa ted jewelry as well as literary journa ls,
bo o ks from local a uthors and art from loca l artists. Th ey wi ll a lso h os t lite rary events including book
s ignings, issue release celebrations and sma ll group wri ting workshops in the gallery s pace. Th e
business is to be located within an ex isting s hoppin g center at 469 Atla ntic Boulevard, Uni t 11 in th e
Comme rcia l General (CG) zo ning distri ct.
A waiver is required for the body pier cing services portion ofth e b us in ess. Section 24-111 (b), whi ch
is lists the p e rmitted uses in the CG zoni ng di s trict, states in part, "Permitted us es sha ll also not
include ... tattoo or body artists ... " This specific prohibiti on means a us e-by-exc e ption is not possibl e
a nd the prohibition must be waived by the City Comm ission. This code provis io n was added in 2010
as part of a large r code update.
If this waiver is a pproved, it will a lso require the Commissio n to app rov e t he body pi ercing use und e r
Secti on 20-5 9 where, ''body piercing/tattoo artist'' is listed under th e heading, ''Commiss ion approval
will be required before busin ess tax rece ipts will be issu ed for the following businesses, and business
taxes shall be as follows:".
Possible co nditions that th e Commission may co nsider a re: 1.) That the business re main in
comp liance with Chapter 64E-19 of th e Florida Administrative Code; 2.) That the wa ive r is gran t ed to
the appli cant only and s hall not run with th e title t o the property. Numb e r one wi ll require the
business to operate at s tate s tanda rds. Numb e r two will make the waiver consistent with the
regulations of a use-by-exception.
BUDGET: None.
RECOMMENDATION: To get Commission consens us to move item 16-S!\FW-133 forward to a
Publi c Hearin g on September 12, 20 16 .
ATTACHMENTS: Co py of 16-S!\FW-133 app li cat ion.
REVIEWED BY CJTY MANAGER: -~--=-4-4'--=?___,4-ff.:z:....:::...L-4:0Ac:wo~:::....-.,c./ _________ _
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
APP L I CATION FOR L AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATI ONS WAIVER
City of Atlantic Bcacb · 800 Seminole Road · Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
Phone: (904) 247-5826 · FAX (904) 247-5845 · bttp://www.coab.us
Date---------File No •. ________ Receipt _________ _
Section 24·46 (d) permits the CUy Commission to authoa·ize llmtted Waivers, on a case-by-case basis, from a
specific pt·ovlslon(s) of these L and Development Regulations when it Is demonstratetl thnt compliance with
such provislon(s) would be unreasonable, In conruct with the pubUc Interest, oa· a practical itnposslbllity. A
Waive•· from these Land Development Regulntions may be approved only upon showing of good cause, and
upon evidence that au alternative to a specific pt·ovlsion(s) of this Chapter· sbaU be provided, which conforms to
the genera\ intent and spirit of thes e Land Development Rcgulntlons. In consldeting any r equest for n Wniver
fa·om these Land Development Regulations, tbe City Commission may requll'e conditions as appropriate to
ens ure that tbe inte11t of these Land Development Regulatio11s is enforced. A Waiver slaall not modify any
requirement or term customarily consitlered as a Val'iance or any a-cquia·emcnt o r term prohibited as a
Variance, and shaU be considered o11ly In cnscs where alternative adminlstmtlve pa·ocedures are not set for the
within the City Code of Ordinances.
1. Applicant's Na me Ge ~ C)Q. -af"'Ol fl\I'V"\ ~:eer
2. Applicant's Address I DC:) 'J?iae ~\ue;\,1 Mbo\it l3e.-'?"c hq Pl '3 22..~'3.
3. Propc1·ty Location tflo:l-1 \ Pr\1%-\)c . .'B\vd. 1 ~\\-a~c:... ~'"OQo,'fL ~ "2. .. .'2-S 'S
4. Propcr·ty Appralscl''s Rcnl Estate Numbtll' __,\._3-..,.;:;;0'""lt\..._..:O:;.._-_Ob ......... ""O__,O......._ _____________ --"
5. Current Zoning Classlllcatlon C Q'Mmt;<d.~ 6. Comprehensive Plnn Future Land Usc designation CJ'/\
7. Requested provlslon(s) fl ·om wltlch wnlvcr Is sought: ~..:.-4<~...c:2=-4~--\...._\.~o.\..__ ____________ _
8. SlzcofPnrccl 61-\f)lo <¥+~. 9. UtiUty Provider -=~=::;.../\......_ ________ _
10. Provide nil of the following Information:
n. Proof of ownership (deed or certificate by lawyer Ol' abstract company or title compnny that verlflcs •·ecord
owne•· os above). If the applicant Is not the owner, n letter of authorization from the owner(s) fot• npplfcnnt to
t•cprescnt tbc owner for nU pm·poscs relntcd to this appllc.ntlon must be provided.
b. Survey and legal dc!crlptlon of pt'operty.
c. Required number of copies (2)
<1. Application Fcc ($2SO.OO)
I HEREBY CERTIFY l'HAT ALL INFORMAT ION PROVIDED WITH THIS APPLICATION IS CORRECT:
Signature of owncl'(s) or authorized pel'son If ownc•·'" nutho•·Jzntlon form Is attocbcd:
Prlntedodypodn•m•:-=._~11\'d T ;}()en~
Slgnatu••c(s):~ __ -~
7
................... ~·····----------------------------,...,
AGENDA ITEM BA
AUGUST 22, 2016
ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF PERSON TO RECEIVE ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING Tms
APPLICATION
Name: C-uecxc& Do S5-c\3:f.,.C
Mailing Addt·ess: \OCt S>\ o·e ~~'ce e -Is 1 1\\@cli L JSe -cc h 15?-L. 3. 2z_."3, ·3.
Phone: t61..J)'L':\i--0, ( CCk Fax: ..LN~A.~----------'E-mail: ?,\~ • C..'\e..'CY~'-.)~ @.<j~ l. CO
10. Statement of facts and any special reasons for the requested Waiver, which demonstrates compliance with
Section 24-46 (d) of the Zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Regulations and specifically
describing how the request complies with the Conditions necessal'y fm· the City Commission to approve this
l'equest. Please attach additional pages if needed.
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
This waiver is being requested due to inconsistencies between Atlantic Beach ordinance
24-ill and the Local Business Tax Application Checklist posted on the official Atlantic
Beach website (http://www.coab.us/DocumentCenter/View/3716), which states,
"Commission Approval: required for the following businesses" and "Body
Piercing/Tattoo Artists" in the accompanying list.
This business, Pure Imagination, is not a traditional tattoo/body-piercing establishment.
As far as the body arts are involved, we will not-and never plan to--offer tattoos, only
body piercing. The rest of the business consists of: an art gallery featuring local artists,
with a new show every quarter; the sale of literary joumals, such as Bridge Eight and
Fiction Fix, and books by local authors, including Tim Gilmore and Mark Ari; jewelty
sales from top-of-the-line USA manufacturers and local jewelers, including (but not at all
limited to) Anatometal, Maria Tosh, Glasswear Studio, Paige Jenrette, and Miguel
Villanueva; an event space within the gallery for literary events-readings, book
signings, issue release celebrations, small-group writing workshops.
Per Section 24-46 (d), it would be unreasonable to provide customers the opportunity to
buy high-end body jewelry without providing the piercing services (procedure, after-care
check-ins, etc.) along with it. The vast majority of tattoo/piercing studios will not pierce
or change out jewelry from another retailer, which could greatly impact Pure
Imagination's jewelry sales: customers would be able to buy the highest quality jewelry,
but would have no one to install it for them, rendering the jewelry virtually useless. By
providing customers with the services and the jewelry, we are able to meet all of our
customers' needs and help ensure our financial longevity, as jewelry sales will
encompass approximately 75-80% of sales.
Pure Imagination is working to be a haven for the arts: a place that fosters various atts-
from visual to tactile to literary-within our community by giving community members a
place to explore and leam and network, in addition to oppmtunities to feature and sell
their own works.
OWNER'S AUTHORIZATION FOR AGENT
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
_;C:,_~..LI!:::.e~o.:....:-r~ce;=?·~, 11:......:s...o..~....-.-\-_:__~3-...G.!loo .. k-<\~-\-......;s.a=~-~~~~------is hereby authorized to act on behalf of
___ ..Jl\f\:..:....:...:.',t,..::::~~---~r~:.:::.<-\.l....----']i..lp.,;~l--.....:::..:;.;vv::.....=.S ______________ _}. the owner(s) of those lands described
within the attached application, and as de scribed in the attached deed or other such proof of ownership as may
be requh·ed, in applying to the City of Atlantic Beach, Florida, for an application related to a Development
Permit or other action pu rs uant to:
8 Zoning Variance 0 Comprehensive Plan Amendment
Use-by-Exception 0 Zoning Map Amendment
Bullding Pe.1mit 0 Plat, Replat or Lot Division
0
iZf>
Sign Permit 0 Tree Permit
Other L"2>-:-d I2t.>JS.\t:~?<Y-<nx ·~g\'0.\) lN\:s. W ~~
Print Name
Signature of Owner
Print Name
C\, \)\...l -~ \ ·~-(, ~L l 0
Telephone Number
State of ___ r_l..._o_(l.._t~~ll-____ _
County of Ov V~L
:)'J\ "(
Signed and sworn before me on thi s __ ...:....\ 4-l-day of, 20 J.. \o
Identifiontion veri fied:. __ \-.:....-_L-_____ _
Ontbsworn: ____ Yes __ ..:..f/<. __ No /IV ;ry ~/~ Not~ ·~
Ana Novakovic ('.... 1 2 f... 'l.o l -State of Aorida My Commi ss ion expires: ..::S:tp, t-t b
~~:\"~~My C:O~misslon # EE 838578
!
---··-··-··~~~--~~~---------~~---~~------~---~~--~--
Doc # 2011265024, OR BK 15791 Page 310, Number Pages: 2, Recorded 12/08/2011
at 03:34 PM, JIM FULLER CLERK CIRCUIT COURT DUVAL COUNTY RECORDING $18.50 DEED
DOC ST $9660.00
•;
RECORD AND RETURN TO
PREPARER OF THIS INSTRUMENT:
TIMOTHY P. KELLY, ESQ.
1016 La Salle Street
Jacksonville, Flo'rida 32207
Real Estate Tax J.D. No. 170690-0000
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
Above Space for Clerk's Recording
WARRANTY DEED
THIS WARRANTY DEED made this i \--1--day of December, 2011, by LAURA
PLAZA, INC., a Florida corporation, whose address is 7880 Gate Parkway, Suite 300,
Jacksonville, Florida 32256, hereinafter called Grantor, to DIAMOND REAL ESTATE
PROPERTIES IV, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, hereinafter called Grantee
and whose address is 6517 Lou Drive South, Jacksonville, Florida 32216.
(Wherever used herein the term "grantor" and "grantee• Include all ihe parties to this Instrument and the heirs,
legal representatives and assigns of Individuals, and the successors and assigns of corporations)
WITNESSETH:
THAT the Grantor, for and In consideration oft he sum ofT en and N0/1 00 Dollars, and other
valuable considerations, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hereby grants, bargains, sells,
aliens, remises, releases, conveys and confirms unto the Grantee, all that certain land situate, lying
and being In Duval County, Florida, viz:
Lots 810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 838, 839 and 840, SALTAIR,
SECTION NO. 3, according to the map or plat thereof as recorded In Plat
Book 10, Page(s) 16, Public Records of Duval County, Florida
SUBJECT TO taxes accruing subsequent to December 31, 2011.
SUBJECT TO covenants, restrictions and easements of records, if any; however, this
reference thereto shall not operate to reimpose same.
TOGETHER with all the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging
.,. or in anywise appertaining.
TO HAVE· AND TO HOLD the same in fee simple forever.
AND the Grantor hereby covenants with said Grantee that the Grantor is lawfully seized of
said land in fee simple; that the Grantor has good right and lawful authority to sell and convey said
land; that the Grantor hereby fully warrants the title to said land and will defend the same against
J1 f''l\ .
Initials: ~---
1 1
1
J
j
l ~
I
l
OR BK 15791 PAGE 311 AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever claiming by, through or under Grantor but not
otherwise.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Grantor has signed and sealed these presents the day
and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in
our presence:
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF DUVAL
am& 'IlL E. SASS MID
LAURA PLAZA, INC., a Florida corporation
BY:~~ iNE ASHOURIAN
President
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this e_:,-\-~nday of December, 2011,
by Elain Ashourian, as President of Laura Plaza, Inc., a Florida corporation. She ~reeYees Driver
License as identificatlon.Shc:... \ ~ y;>--..<;)...-..,\.\~ lL~""-..,.._,:,.,..... -\-.:. v-t..
Q1~1~(p~
otary PubC
My Commission Expires:
My Commission Number:
CHERYL E. SASSARD
MY COMMISSION I 00 705609
EXPIRES: June 6, 2012
Bcnl!o<l Thru Noial}' Public UndeiWTilors
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
DIAMOND REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES IV LLC
6517 LOU DRS
JACKSONVILLE:, FL 32216
Primary Si te Address
469 ATI.ANTIC BLVD
Atlantic Beach FL 32233
Official Record Book, l"'tlg~
15791-00310
469 ATLANTIC BLVD
~!1r¥.:=. ~~~~-_ _ ~ .=:JY~~o_o~~ :-=:-..----:=--~--·---~--=-~::.
nx ql_5trlc.~ ___ .J~USI?!.. .. _ ..... _ _ ___ _ __ _
~pJli!YJ.Ii.!l -·-· _ ~6?~_Shopping_ C~riNbhd ·--·----_
tl of Buildings 1
L~-~~~--------~~~-~;:~~~;;~~~~~:. ... ·-·-.. ·--·-· §_~~~~!!em:-----·-~ . ro3_us ~~L!~~ s_ec_o3 ·-. . --~ -I .!.~,~~.!.'!.~--·----··------~~!_ _____________________ .,_, ___ , __
l11e sale of this property may res ult In higher property taxes. For more lnfonnation go to
Saye Our Homes and our Er2P..!!Y.lllx Est!m;~tor. 'In Progress' property values, exe mptions
11nd other supporting Information on U1l s page are part of the worldng tax roll and are
subject to change. Certified values listed In the Valu e Summary are those certified In October,
but may Include any offic ial ch1mge s made after certification Learn how the Prooerty
ll~
Value Su mmary ____ ~=·;:"';:~~-;--r=~.,.-,=----..,
___ .•.. --···--·---1_~5-ct!!l.~IL }.R G n f.f.P.!J,~~--. -_ ~o-ta~_;0:;;;~~-tji~f:~-. --J;~~;~. _ .... ·-=· I
-·-~!~~~~~JJ.~. -· . --· .!_0.0~--
-··-~~dV~Iu~_(M~~~ $6~,00~~-~so,ooo~-----
~...!!.!L\{.1!.11!~-<Bllrrc.J $0.00 $0.00
Cop Dlff /Portability Amt $0.00 I $0.00 $0.00 I $0.00 --~ ----. -----.. -. -····-···--·-···
_ -------~l.(!(llP~I!!Il!_ $~~---... ~e-~b-~~o~ ..... ·-··
Taxa biG Value $1,037,000.00 See below -----.-· .. _ . --. ... ... .. .. .. .,.________ --·-·-· .... -··-
Taxable Values and Exemptions -In Progt·ess r
If there or e no exemptions applicable to 11 ~x lng authority, the Taxable Veluo Is tho snme os tho AsseS!Icd Vnluo listed above In the Value Summary box.
County/Municipal Taxab le Value SJRWMD/AND Taxable Value School Taxable Value
No applicable exemptions No applicable exemptions No appli cable exe mptions
~e~t~!:~otv. i!::~~~a·o-;;-· fS-.;;-iri~;--f .o.c~Jn mmn.•liU.Y~~ok -·-··-.. ··· -~2!!i!~i1Vnq~;;l tii9~--·--·-~-·Tv;;;~"tjl;~~~.'d ·-·· ·-1
1S'f91·00l10 "'ril7ll011 .. · $1,300,000.00.. WD-Wamn;D~ed ' QUlllified ' · · lmpra"ved · ' .. · I
05605·00714 1/1111903 $130,000.00 · WD • Wamnty O~ed Unqualified Va~nt · · · .. · · I
OS1S1:003Q6 012711981 $130,000.00 MS • Miscellaneous UnquaiiO~d I~ proved I
Q49QZ·00993 311511979 $155,000.00 WD • Warranty Deed Unqualified Improved I
~:::;-t~~~~!·. ... :~!;~~~;a.... . . !~~~~:~~~0 -~-·c::::~·~;~tle , ~~:~:::~:: ;::~::~ I
Extra Features f-;1
r LN 1 f.AAt~!l
1 • · -·~ PVcci ¥
2 DKWC2
3 FWDC1
'I FWIC1
Buildings ?; 'I
Building 1
Building 1 Site Address
1 69 ATIAN11C BLVD
Atlantic Beach FL 32233
-~-;;:--·---rGr~~
·• ·-Area
Base Area /1000
Restaurant 1000 Average
Base Area 13000 ...
I feature Desc:riptl~n
l P~vlng Concrete'
Deck Wooden
I Fence W~od ! Fenc~ Wrought Iron
j Lon.oth
0
0
0
0
[lmltno I Front I Depti.-·j Cate~~ry I LandU~ItD fi;;tlY-;,;-·j Land Vo~·~
) ACG ··· ... I ~~oo j o.oo jcommon f3£s~:OO I Square Footage I $650,000.00
rv~-~ .. ·-----,
$1o,2ao.oo . .. -~
$102.00
15,531.00
32.00
32.00
10.00
$150.00
$409.00
LN Legal Description
1 1o-16 21-2S·29E
2 SALTAIR SEC 3
-···-·-l ~~al ___ _
I 3 1 LOTS 010 lO 016,830 lO 6'10
I .,
Element
EXterior Wall
Roof Struct
Roofing Cover
Interior Wall
Int Roorlng
Int Roorlng
Heating Fuel
Heating Type
A!r Con d
Coda ~ob l ~---l
I
)r Tl ----,~---l
Heated Fl Area Area
1000 t' . 1000 1200
13000
1
13000 I
Ceiling Wall Rnlsh
Comm Htg &AC
Comm fr.lme
17
9
tJ
5
14
11
4
4
'I
5
1
3
17 C.B. Stucco
9 Rigid FtiBar J I LLL 9 4 Bu~t Up/T&G i_L~ l1
5 Drywall
14 Carpet
11 Cer Clay llle l " 4 Electric rL.J 4 Forced-Ducted
4 Patkaged Unit ·····-· .... ·-··~·· ...
5 SCeiiWall An
1 Not Zoned
3 C.Nasonry
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
~01.5 N~tic:e of Proposed Pt:OP.~!'!Y. Taxes. Noti.ce (!~M :N_oticeL_ .. T-~------~,-~.-~~ .. ~~---~-.--~--·-··-·----~-----~,-------.. --,.·"'·····---··-~·--··~
l TaxlugJ!i.$!rlg l Assessed Value j Exemptions i Taxable Value l Last Year ,! Proposed j Rolled-back { j ·G;~·-(;"'0~-8~~-~;,~~ ... f$1,o37,8oo.oo . .. .. 'T$'o.oo· -· -· TH;o37,8oo.oo-. l $8,685.92 ! $8,459.3-2 . f$8,or3.37 . 1
!Public Schools: By State Law I $1,037,800:0() . ! $0:00 l $1,03],8()0.o.o r$5,38~-7~ l $5,053.05 ! $5,089.27 I
t ~y Local Board l $1,037,800.00 ( $0.00 ~~1!0~7~800.00 l $~,~95.~7 1 $2,332.97 j$2,262.40 1
! FL Inland Navigation Dist. ! $1,037,800.00 l $0.00 l $1,037,800.00 l $36.76 I $35.80 f $33.21 1 l Atla;,-ti~ s~ach · ·· ··· · · 1 $1;o37,iioo:oo \ $o.oo l $1,o37,8oo.o<i ! $3;5<~6:85 h3,454.32 1
,1 $3,276.02 j
rw~t~r MgmtDi~t: SJRWMD ! $1;o37,iioo.oo ' l $0.00 I $1,0Jl,800.00 j $337.16 . l $313.73 ! $313.73 I I Gen (;~~voted · I $1,o37,iioo:oo 1 $o.oo ! $1,o37,8oo.oo I $o:oo · 1 $o.oo I $O.oo I
ls~hool s~ar<l voted · ··1 $l)l37,aoo.oo · ·l $o.oo l $1,o37,8oo.oo .I $o:oo l $o.oo l $o.oo i
Lurban service Dist3 j!$1,o37,80o.oo j $o.oo J ~1,o~7,8iio.oo j $O:oo ..... · -j $0.oo . .. j $o.oo I
i 1 1 , J Totals l $20,390.90 ! $19,6<19.19 I $18,966.00 I
t~.--~~~::::~~=--===:==~=:=:=-_JI~~y~~~:-~:~=~=--·~-=----[~~-~~~~va'iUE.~--~===~-LE~~el!~!!~------·· -_ .~~:=TI~l!'!~~~~:~~=:::-:·:=-:=~=~-1
! Last Year j $1,065,600.00 I $1,065,600.00 ! $0.00 1 $1,065,600.00 , [ ...................... '"~------------·--······-----~---·------------·-·---··· ........... _ ... __ , _______________ ............ ----·----· .... -------}---'---------···--· .................................... _ ............................ -·-..................... i
f Current Year; $1,037,800.00 ! $1,037,800.00 i $0.00 I $1,037,800.00 ! L ....... ~--,·-~······ --·--·-·····-~---·········--·l~---~--··--·--·--~~--~-··-··,~-·~·~~-~-~-~·----·~----~---.< ... ,.__. .. ~·--.....-.··-·-----·---·--·-···"~~---·---~--~·--------------~------~---J
·.--.·············· .... ... ............ . .. ... . I
This PRC reflects property details and values at the time of the original mailing of the Notices of Proposed Property Taxes (TRIM Notices) in
August.
Property Record card (PRC)
The PRC accessed below reflects property details and values at the time of Tax Roll Certification in October of the year listed.
2015
2014
" To obtain a historic Property Record Card (PRC) from the Property Appraiser's Office, submit your request here:
More Information
:ontact Us I Parcel Tax Record I GIS MaP-I Mill;! this QroP-§lY on Google Maps I City Fees Record
AGENDA ITEM SA
AUGUST 22, 2016
Georgina ("Georgie") Salzer has resided in the Beaches area since 2009 and, specifically,
in Atlantic Beach since 2011. She has an extensive background in business
management-including her time as Store Managet' of the Neptune Beach Starbucks-
and currently works in Prospect Research at the University of North Florida. She is a
graduate student, studying English Rhetoric and Composition, in the English Department
at UNF. Georgie acts as graduate advisor for UNF's literary journal, Talon Review, and
is also a writer and editor. She is a member of the Florida Environmental Health
Association (FEHA) and has current Blood Borne Pathogens certification by the state of
Florida.
John ("Jon") Salzer is a Jacksonville native and, though he loves to travel, plans to
always call Jacksonville his home. He is an experienced and passionate body piercer and
quality-jewelry advocate. Jon began his body piercing apprenticeship in September 2008,
and directly followed his apprenticeship with the Head Body Piercer position at Todd
Lake Tattoo Studio in February 2009. In May 2010, he moved to Cani.bbean Connection
in Jacksonville Beach, and stayed there until Febmary 2015, when he was offered a
position at East Coast Worldwide, also in Jacksonville Beach. Jon left East Coast
Worldwide in March 2016, detetmined to open up his own studio that could support his
passions (body piercing and body jewelry) and also allow him to maintain his high ethical
ideals and commitment to ensuring customers have the absolute best experience in the
studio, while providing strict enforcement of health codes and sanitation standards.
In addition to his apprenticeship, Jon stays current on continuing education by attending
classes such as Microdermal training in New Jersey and the Fakir Intensive in San
Francisco. He is also a member of the Association of Professional Piercers, an
"international non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination of vital health and
safety information about body piercing to piercers, health care professionals, legislators,
and the general public" (www.safepiercing.org), and the Florida Environmental Health
Association (www.FEHA.org), whose mission it is to, "promote and protect the health of
the people in Florida by strengthening the knowledge and standards of environmental
public health professionals. This mission will be achieved by maintaining standards of
conduct, providing a certification process that includes educational standards and
professional development, applying and promoting scientific principles, communicating
with the membership and districts, and promoting the profession through publications,
training, and liaisons with other associations." Jon has maintained, and is current with,
his Blood Borne Pathogens certification by the state of Florida since 2008 and is also
certified in CPR and First Aid Training.
Jon and Georgie have been married since September 2011 and bought their home in
Atlantic Beach in October of the same year. They are often out-and-about at the beaches
and can typically be found on their bikes or at Bull Park with their one-and-a-half year
old son.
CS:ID oo.-4
:iE::a • U.l ..
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-N
<t;;
0::> • ~I!)
l!)::l << •
D
Pure Imagination Floor Plan
Store age
Hallway
Bathroom
Gallery
8 'x 8 '6"
68
Office/Storage
• Biohazard Room! Employees Only
• Piercing Area
HEALTH
Why I Took My 7-Year-Old to a Tattoo
Parlor
Bonnie Rochmon fnb. '!, 2012
Thinking about getting your kid's ears
pierced? Why a reputable tattoo parlor
may be safer than using the piercing gun
atthemall ·
Last month, J(Jilowing a long period of
girlish cajoling, my daughter tlnally got
her ears pierced in celebration of her 7th
birthday. The setting was not: the
traditional mall kiosk staffed by some
bored and minimally trainecl16-year-old.
fnstead I took my daughter to a tattoo
parlor.
Bonnie Rochmttn
Sarah LaRoe pierces my daughter's ears at
Pierced Hearts, a Seattle tattoo parlor,
SurpriRed they even allow 7-year-olds in those kinds of pltlCes? Think again. A growing
number of parents are apparently turning to tattoo parlors to bejewel their children's
little lobes. l didn't come up \\ith this crazy idea out of the blue; I'm a reporter, after all: I
researched where to take Shira and weighed the pros and cons. 1 found that tattoo
parlors-despite the blaring heavy metal music-were mom-appmved by a local
parenting email! ist. When e\'en u nurse cast her \'Ol:e in favor of the tattoo parlor, I
deliberated no longer.
"There is a stigma attached to tal:loo parlors that they're dirty and will be bombarded by
foul-mouthed people," says Sarah LaRoe, a mom \\ith multiple facial piercings and
tattoos creeping up her neck, who pierced my little girl's ears so tenderly thnt she ]eft her
not in tears but with a big, happy smile on her face.
Contrary ln what you might think, talloo parlors--alleasllhe one I wenllo-are
actually bastions of cleanliness. Some slates regulate them, and reputable ones use
disposable needles und sterilize a1l their equipment in on autocla\'e, In contrast, mall
piercers and many jewelry stores use piercing guns that have been associated with
cornplic;Jtiom; and can't be completelyslerilized. Armed with that knowledge, which
would you choose?
While some parents might be fi·eakecl out by the idea oftulcing their kid loa tattoo
parlor, I looked upon the outing as an adventure, joking \\ith my daughter about gr~tting
u Hello Kitty tattoo for mom. What I didn't expect was that the experience would evolve
into a lesson in tolerance. In that unnerving way little kids have of speaking their mind,
Shira took an initial look 11l LaRoe <1nd stage-whispered: "J think she lool<s ugly like
that.~
I immediately tlashed her my scary mom eyes to signal her to clam up. Hnllater, after
we'd lelt the store, her comment served as an opportunity to point out lhatjusl because
someone looks different, il doesn't mean she's not a good person. LaRoe, regardless of
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AUGUST 22,2016
®2015 Time Inc. All rights reserved.
her unconventional piercings, was super-professional and extremely kind.
For professional piercers like LaRoe, who stiek needles through noses, eyebrows, tongues
and nether regions, ears are the most mundane of piercing locations. But that doesn't
mean they don't take it seriously. LaRoe spent nearly an hour with us, versus the quick
in-and-out that I remember from getting my ears pierced at the mall as a girl. Before
leading liS into the piercing room-which looked just like a doctor's office-LaRoe
handed the birthday girl n bag \\ith a lollipop, which e:x1)ertly distracted Shim from being
overly ner\'ous about what was going on.
The bag also contajneJ non-iodized sea salt and instructions for mom on ho\\' to mix a
saline solution to dean newly pierced ears. Unlike the alcohol that mall kiosks
recommend for cleaning, salty water doesn't burn.
I\iORE C~lt:Dn .Ne(;dlc~; :.~;J\'e;J fv1y Life. NU\Y (_'on,~r~C~.S \\lar:.t::; tfJ EHH !-!'undln{; r(H NeedL-:
ExciK1nge
Now for the gory details: at tattoo parlors, piercers use hypodermic needles to core out n
sliver of skin, making room for an earring-a relath·ely painless procedure. In contrast,
at the mall, the piercer uses a gun that painfully jams a blunt-tipped earring stud into the
ear lobe; the process does not remove skin, hut effeetiYely pushes it aside.
LaRoe is so cmwinced of the superiority of needles over piercing guns that she's signed
pelilions to ban the guns; one such petition makes the case that "only cowboys use guns."
ln her quest to reform the ear-piercing industry, LaRoe leaves her business emd ut
schools and pediatricians' oftlces. When she takes her own son to tho doctor, she'll
frequently get questions about her multiple piercings; sometimes she get<: customers that
way too.
Ullimately, though, change starts parent by parent, through word of mouth. "lt kind of
acts like a trendsetter," says LaRoe. "All it takes is one little girl who goes to school and
says it didn't hurt."
It didn't hurt? Well, maybe a little. But so little that Shira didn't e\'en blink when LaRoe
pierced her first ear. During the procedure, LaRoe had her do some deep, yoga-like
breathing, which Shira is familiar with from her weekly yoga class. In and out, in--
pierce! or course, the lollipop helped too.
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· ~p ·. J /wLOLD·~ccd-\t\~~~~l~~-~~~~'3f>2te/~\tro~ -~'J<\~
Why Yo u Sh oul d Ne v e r Ge t Yo u r Ears Pi e r c ed a t the M a ll \Dcrl.-~&\D . .e ... rs/.
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Seems innocent, right? You want to get your or your kid's ears pierced and you figure, I'll
just head on down to the mall and get it done at one of those kiosks or affordable
accessory shops. But unfortunately, that's a not-so-smart move. Why, you ask? It's
dangerous, say experts. So before you head to a retail store for a q.\,tlcJs. .. e.ar_pLer.c.i og, read
up on why you should go to a professional piercing studio in stead.
You could get an infection.
Piercing guns-the typical tool used at your local shopping center -are fast and cheap,
but they can put your health in danger. "From a medical standpointf any object that is
purposefully introduced through the skin shou ld be sterile to decrease the probability of
infection," sa y s Dr. Julia Tzu, dermatologist and founder of Wall Str~LI2em:l~J.9JQ.gY-in
New York City.
And while some mall stores state that they Qi~.l.nte.c1J.h.e.lrJ.Q.Ql~ beforehand, you can•t
actually sterilize a pier cing gun. And this is important because sterili zation kills all
"viable microorganisms," while disinfection simply "reduces the number of viable
microorganisms," according to the ~JJ.ol1L.~rsjty~n ci.MSld i c.a l Ce nter.
"Piercing guns can not be steri lized because they are made of plastic. The plastic would
melt in an autoclave, which i s what we used to sterili ze in struments like needles, jewelry,
and any tools we might use during the piercing," says John Joyce, a professional piercer
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AUGUST 22, 2016
with 18 years of experience and the owner of .S~aLab_Boc;ty_l\rts in Syracuse, '"ew YorK.
Even if a piercing gun is wiped off with an antiseptic wipe, there's still a risk of spreading
diseases (think hepatitis and staph infections) after multiple use, according to the
Ass_o~cia1iorlJ2LProfes~sional PJ.erc_ers (APP). And sadly, it's the people most likely to have
their piercings done at the mall whose health is the most compromised. "Babies, young
children, and others with immature or compromised immune systems may be at higher
risk for contracting such infection."
Still on the fence? One W.Q.m~mJ~Lillm~li. that she had her ears pierced a whopping three
times at Claire's, only to be forced to remove them every time amid severe pain, oozing
pus, and crustiness. The first time, she says, doctors simply removed the earring, but the
second time around, they were forced to cut it out of her ear. The third go-around was so
' painful, she had to remove them the next day.
The results just aren't that good.
"While earrings are technically tapered and sharp in appearance, they are not as sharp as
the needles used by a professional piercer," says Dr. Tzu. "The difference is that a gun
forcefully rams the earring posts through the earlobe, while a professional piercer may be
more deliberate in creating the puncture, so there's a difference in the degree of trauma
sustained by the surrounding tissue."
Here's a crude yet informative visual demonstration of the difference between piercing
with jewelry versus a needle:
Another thing to note is that the piercings you can perform with a gun are limited, as well.
"Cartilage does not respond well when pierced with a gun," warns Joyce, though some
stores D.ffBLtO .. P.iecc..e __ .o_uteL.c_aJ:tilag.e. anyway. Plus, if you have thicker ears, Joyce warns
that your lobes might not even fit into the gun -a potential problem that isn't a possibility
if you're getting pierced with a needle.
One last thing: The earrings they're inserting can also make a difference. "Most of the
problems we see in earlobes are from the quality of the jewelry the mall stores carry," he
adds.
How to Find a Pro
If you want to get your or your child's ears pierced, your best bet is to head to a reputable
piercing studio. And the best way to find one is to thoroughly read online reviews and
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check out a piercer's credentials. Although it may feel odd or unfamiliar to walk into a
piercing or tattoo studio, that's where the experts are-not at the mall.
"I can't spe~k for all mall stores, but the ones I have spoken to have had very rushed
training," says Joyce. "It's usually just 'watch me do this a couple times,' then maybe
watch a video."
Worried they won't work on your child? Don't fret: There are many certified pros who are
willing to pierce kids. "New York State law says that without a parent, you must be 18, but
with a parent, I can pierce earlobes at 10," says Joyce, who adds that the age limit will vary
by studio and their insurance, so be sure to check your state's laws, as well as policies at
individual establishments.
3 Things to look Out For
Once you find a studio, these are the questions you need to ask.
1. How much training has the piercer had? When it comes to training, more is always
preferable. "A good professional piercing apprenticeship usually lasts between 12 and 18
months -you wouldn't even attempt a piercing for at least the first six months," explains
Joyce. In that time, the piercer would learn about aseptic technique, cross contamination
prevention, proper sterilization protocols, and other important skills that ensure their
clients are getting safe, well-performed piercings.
2. How clean is the studio? Dr. Tzu recommends observing the overall cleanliness of the
facility: "A conspicuously dirty studio is not a good sign."
3. Does the piercer use disposable gloves and sterile packets for each needle? Ask if
your piercer uses a new pair of disposable gloves for each procedure and check to see if
needles are taken from sterilized or disposable sterile packets, advises Dr. Tzu. If this isn't
the case, take that as a tip to leave.
The Bottom line
Putting your safety in the hands of someone who's barely trained isn't something you
would do for any other medical procedure-so don't risk it with piercings, either. So
people get their ears pierced with no difficulties, but if there's a significant chance that
something could go wrong-and there are safer ways to go about it-shouldn't you opt
for the less risky option?