HOBART | The City Council denied a request to open a tattoo shop in downtown Hobart for the second time in as many months.

Late last year, Wilfredo Brignoni appeared before the Board of Zoning Appeals asking for a variance that would allow a tattoo shop to open downtown. The BZA denied his request, and Brignoni appealed to the City Council. He did not appear at the December meeting where his appeal was heard. He said after the meeting he wasn't aware that the time of that meeting had been changed.

The council reheard his appeal Wednesday night, but again denied his request, saying it agreed with the Board of Zoning Appeals assessment that the shop didn't fit with the character of the downtown area.

Brignoni, who owns a tattoo shop in Portage, said many of his customers have come from Hobart and he would like to give back to the Hobart community.

His attorney, Clark Holesinger, said the business was considered a professional service and would fit in with the downtown business association.

But council members said they thought the business was better suited for a higher-traffic area, such as along Ridge Road or U.S. 30.

"I have no problem with a tattoo parlor in Hobart," said Councilman Tom Ehrhardt, R-1. "But we have to enforce our codes and not allow variances. I'm heavily influenced by the BZA and enforcing the zoning laws."

Councilman Carl Lindsey, R-2, agreed.

"The BZA does a fantastic job investigating and looking into every request," he said. "They're not against the tattoo gallery, they're concerned it's too close to (Hobart Middle School) and churches. Our job is to uphold what they say."