By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Changes to Lewiston’s zoning code could make it easier to open tattoo parlors but harder for adult bookstores, if City Councilors agree.

The City Council is scheduled Tuesday night to consider changing the way bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors and adult bookstores are defined in Lewiston’s zoning ordinances.

“There’s a lot of confusion amongst the public about what is what and what can go where,” said City Planner David Hediger.

Councilors are scheduled to discuss the plan during their meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Lewiston City Hall.

The city’s current zoning lists definitions for eating and drinking establishments, adult businesses and adult amusements. The biggest changes would come to the definition of an adult business. That currently includes bars and taverns, tattoo parlors and any place that sells to or services adults, those 18-years-old or older.

The new definition would remove both taverns and tattoo parlors. Bars, saloons and taverns would get their own category – “drinking establishments” – and tattoo parlors would be included in the personal services category, alongside businesses like hair salons and barbers.

The city would do away with the adult amusement category as well, and include those places – which offer live or video-on-demand adult or XXX entertainment – in the adult business category.

“You can have some businesses that fall into both divisions, as an adult amusement and an adult business,” Hediger said. Adult businesses are allowed downtown however, while adult amusements are not. They’re only allowed as a conditional use in some outlying zones.

“That’s where the confusion comes from – is it an amusement or a business?” Hediger said.

Breaking taverns off from adult bookstores gives the city more flexibility in deciding what businesses can go where. The change shouldn’t affect current adult bookstores. They existed before the zoning codes where change, Hediger said.

But Hediger said he expects the most questions on the plan to categorize tattoo parlors as personal services. As an adult business, tattoo parlors are only allowed downtown without a special permit. The change would allow them anywhere a hair salon currently exists.

The Planning Board debated that issue, and Hediger said he expects councilors to discuss it as well.

“The stereotype of people getting tattoos isn’t really accurate,” Hediger said. “More and more professional people get them now. It’s much more respectable than it was, so why should you limit them?”

Lewiston currently has three tattoo parlors. Hediger said he doubts there is much demand for more.

“I can’t really imagine a huge influx because of this zoning change,” Hediger said.