City tables vote on adult zones

City tables vote on adult zones

KATI BEXLEY
kati.bexley@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 08/28/07
It seemed nearly 90 people heaved a collective sigh Monday when the St. Augustine City Commission tabled an ordinance that determines where adult entertainment can locate in the city.The vast majority of the crowd attended the commission meeting to speak against the ordinance. It would have allowed adult entertainment to be peppered throughout Ponce de Leon Boulevard, State Road 312 and West King Street.More than 100 hundred people had previously contacted The Record to say they were against the measure and they planned to attend the meeting. In preparation, the city reserved Flagler College auditorium in case City Hall was overcrowded.But it wasn't needed.It took only 15 minutes for Mayor Joe Boles to be backed by the four other commissioners to table the measure. City Hall then emptied.In the proposed ordinance that was up for final approval Monday, adult entertainment isn't to be allowed near schools, parks, churches and places that sell alcohol.The commission wants the measure to include more buffers in hopes that will narrow the number of areas where adult entertainment can locate.There were no specifics, but places such as day cares and assisted living facilities have come up, said Mark Knight, city planning and building department director.The ordinance will come back to the commission at its Sept. 24 meeting.Some of the public has said the commission should stick with its original proposal, which contained adult entertainment to four parcels of land off Ponce de Leon Boulevard.Several residents and business owners spoke against that plan.The commission then opened adult entertainment to be located throughout the city's most dense commercial zoning.The city has already passed two ordinances that restrict how the businesses can operate.Previously, the city did not have regulations for adult entertainment.
Click here to return to story:
http://staugustine.com/stories/082807/news_4801439.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record