this hits me hard as hell because I live no less than 10 miles from all of these clubs and now all they left were not so good clubs and clubs really far away
It's a bunch of BS. Obviously, local officials have looked into getting rid of the clubs, and the only way was to remove the grandfather clause that allowed these clubs to continue operating in areas that they have been in for years. It's kinda like sending Al Capone to prison for tax evasion, not really what the issue was but whatever they can get.
This is one of the problems with the system, if your not in the "powers to be" good graces they will find a way to get rid of you, properly or not!
I'm going to go a bit different direction here. Let's say that the property next to your brand new McMansion was zoned and permitted for a nice flower shop next door. After running the shop for a year, the owner decides that a toxic waste dump will be a better moneymaker, and he opens it up, including foul smells and trucks operating 24/7 next door. Would you feel that you had been played? Of course you would.
The principle at work here is exactly the same, regardless of the inconvenience that it will cause the PLs that frequented these places.
If the clubs are violating the zoning laws which were in place when they stated offering adult entertainment, then yes the should be forced to comply.
However, the Post article seems to say that the local government CHANGED the zoning laws as a way to go after the clubs. It's not ok for government to do that IMO.
They changed the zoning laws to force some of these clubs out .. They made the law 4 years ago and many of the clubs fought back and a couple had already shut down ..but a couple was because of the traffic and parked cars in residential areas which I live in the area out of the 12 clubs only 3 had that issue . and 1 of them had a residential area just built right by it
Any change to the zoning laws in place when they were already operating that were more restrictive would be ex post facto if the government attempted to enforce it on those clubs and unconstitutional. Things get a bit more muddled, however, if other ordinances, like on the street parking in areas not covered by the original permit, nuisance factors like excessive police calls, loud noises, etc become a problem. In this case, grandfathered permits will not offer any protection at all.
This was not an effort to address legitimate complaints from people in residential areas close to strip clubs, contrary to the lie from the county spokesman. The goal was to shut down as many clubs as possible by using zoning to restrict them to areas zoned for industry. Some of the clubs are already in industrial areas (Mile High and Fuego to name two) but not in precisely the right type of zone so out they go. If this holds up the only one left will be Showcase, providing a fig leaf for the county to say they weren't just trying to put the clubs out of business. Good luck to anyone trying to get zoning approval to open a club in a permissible zone, you'll need it.
Exactly .. And showcase isn't a black club it seemed as though they targeted the black club .. Certain clubs like bazz n crue who are in dead shopping centers with nothing around it really shouldn't be apart of this
Problem is properties next to a strip club are cheap. People buy them for cheap and then want the strip club gone to increase the value of their houses.
As far as the legalities go, the main standard the US district court applied is there are enough sites to accommodate all the clubs in the permissible zone. The county claims 62 sites and the clubs claim 12. Thus the clubs can be forced to move. Doesn't matter that some of the landlords won't be interested or that they can overcharge for their new monopoly. The federal case is Maages auditorum v. PG county (who knew that SInsaysionals is really Maages auditorium?). It has been appealed to the 4th circuit in RIchmond, hopefully before more sympathetic judges.
The only way the clubs will fight this and win is if they hire excellent legal counsel to represent them. So take a moment and give thanks to the legal profession. They are all that stands between your favorite strip club and some asshole moralist bureaucrat who wants to shut them down.
Try calling the club and see if you get an answer (although it seems in many clubs there is often no-one manning the phones; particularly dives).
But, based on the fact the county seemed to have it out for the clubs, a lot of times it's just a matter of time b/f the powers to be get their way.
It seems a lot of areas are undergoing gentrification and strip-clubs do not fit this model especially when there's big $$$ involved - to me it seems if strip-clubs focus on trying to set up base in mostly out-of-the-way industrial areas that perhaps the powers to be may stay off their backs.
I hope these clubs survive. And some of them are BYOB, and that usually means that they are membership clubs, not retail businesses, and so they should be harder to close.
Membership strip clubs get the place out from under all retail business laws, like public lewdness and sex acts.
And while they don't get the place around the penal code, they do make it impractical to enforce most of the laws restricting the conduct of consenting adults.
40 comments
This is one of the problems with the system, if your not in the "powers to be" good graces they will find a way to get rid of you, properly or not!
BEWARE OF GOVERNMENT
The principle at work here is exactly the same, regardless of the inconvenience that it will cause the PLs that frequented these places.
However, the Post article seems to say that the local government CHANGED the zoning laws as a way to go after the clubs. It's not ok for government to do that IMO.
SJG
Mexico is a really neat country!
http://doxyspotting.com/?p=86217
can anyone confirm this?
But, based on the fact the county seemed to have it out for the clubs, a lot of times it's just a matter of time b/f the powers to be get their way.
It seems a lot of areas are undergoing gentrification and strip-clubs do not fit this model especially when there's big $$$ involved - to me it seems if strip-clubs focus on trying to set up base in mostly out-of-the-way industrial areas that perhaps the powers to be may stay off their backs.
SJG
That was one of the quotes from the article. Unless something changed, warehouses were exactly what was around Fuego the last time I was there.
SJG
That's a good question. In some states it is pretty common, though, so in those places the answer is anyone who wants to go to a strip club.
Or, some PLs just stick to one club they visit often and in that case the membership perks may make it worth-it as long as one visits often.
just says "user busy" every-time i call
every-time i've been to fuego......never seen anyone who appears to answer the phone
its like you said......places that aren't upscale don't tend to have anyone by the phone
i live in virginia. fuego is in maryland. but i go to fuego whenever i happen to be in the area, which isn't often enough
this is why i need to be able to call
And while they don't get the place around the penal code, they do make it impractical to enforce most of the laws restricting the conduct of consenting adults.
:)
SJG
Special Exception Hearings
Fuegos - http://princegeorgescountymd.granicus.co…
Bazz & Crue - http://princegeorgescountymd.granicus.co…
X4B - http://princegeorgescountymd.granicus.co…
Sinsaysionals - http://princegeorgescountymd.granicus.co…
Certification Hearings
Mile High [Fwd 1:08] - http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitVie…
Mustangs [Fwd 1:33] - http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitVie…
Ebony Inn [Fwd 2:09] - http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/SplitVie…
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/maryland…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pub…
SJG
Merida Mexico
http://doxyspotting.com/?p=86223