The Locust Grove City Council approved at its March 4 meeting a conditional use for a tattoo/body art studio on Bill Gardner Pkwy., less than one month after approving several ordinances relating to the overall operation of such businesses.

  The conditions include special restrictions on hours of operation and the fact that any such business must be more than 1,500 from a similar business. The conditional use does not transfer if the business license expires or is forfeited or cancelled. The business cannot being operation until all applicable state and local licenses have been acquired by the applicant.

  A proposed amendment to Locust Grove’s zoning ordinance regarding the parking and storage of commercial vehicles was voted down by the City Council. The amendment was sought by city staff to provide more detail to the definition of a commercial vehicle, so that code enforcement and police officers can be better informed when they receive calls about parked commercial vehicles.

  According to a staff report, vehicles in question are often clearly used for commercial purposes but typically do not weigh enough to be considered “commercial” under the city’s current definition, which is a gross vehicle weight rating above 26,000 pounds for a vehicle or above 10,000 pounds for a trailer.

  Parking and storage of a commercial vehicle is prohibited in residential subdivisions and all residential zoning districts except RA (residential agricultural).

  In other business, the council passed resolutions in opposition to House Bill 302 and Senate Bill 172, which would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing regulations regarding building design, as well as House Bill 465, which would enact the so-called “Georgia Water Customer Bill of Rights Act.”   A resolution was passed in support of legislation to create one or more community improvement districts in Locust Grove. The council also voted to proceed as required by state law with negotiations on the service delivery strategy, as the agreement between Henry County and its four cities has expired and a new agreement has not been reached.