Tattoos in Vista

Wow, I guess I didn't realize that Vista didn't allow tattoo parlors.

VISTA: Planners OK city's first tattoo parlor

Vista's Planning Commission granted a permit Tuesday for what could be the city's first tattoo parlor.

But it postponed its review of another tattoo shop, proposed for a spot closer to the city's downtown.

The two businesses were hoping to take advantage of new rules that allow a limited number of inking establishments in Vista. Until recently, the city had effectively prohibited such shops.

The commissioners voted unanimously to give one of two available permits to Jason and Melissa Betz, owners of Frontline Tattoo studios in Oceanside and Cardiff. The couple want to open a Vista location at 1916 Hacienda Drive, part of a shopping center just south of Highway 78, near the Oceanside border.

"They seem to run decent operations in other cities, and frankly, tattooing isn't what it was 25 years ago," Commissioner Bill Martin said. "It has become a lot more mainstream."

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