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Published Thursday, May 28, 2009 in Local
Coweta towns consider new updated adult ordinances
The Times-Herald
In light of Coweta County's fight against Starship, an adult bookstore chain, the town of Haralson is implementing its first adult entertainment ordinance -- and Turin is updating its ordinance as well.
Once Haralson's ordinance is in place, Senoia will be the only government entity in Coweta County that does not have an ordinance regulating sexually-oriented businesses and adult entertainment.
A public hearing on Haralson's ordinance will be held June 8, said Town Clerk Jennifer Camp.
Camp said Haralson's newest council member, Bonita Rosemas, "brought it up before the council that she wanted to have something in place before it becomes an issue.
"And that is when the council started looking into it," Camp said.
If local governments don't have adult entertainment ordinances, they can't put special regulations on any adult business that might want to come in.
Haralson's proposed ordinance "is patterned very much" after Coweta County's updated ordinance, which was enacted on Jan. 26, Camp said. Council members were presented with studies documenting the negative "secondary effects" of adult businesses two weeks ago, and are now reviewing that information, Camp said.
Turin's ordinance was enacted years ago, said Mayor Alan Starr.
"Since it is old and a little outdated, and in light of what is going on in the county with Starship, we thought it was prudent to look at what our ordinance currently is and revise it," Starr said.
Turin's town attorney, Ted Meeker, who also represents Haralson, likes the county's new ordinance and is patterning Turin's ordinance after it, Starr said. "We're going to revise it, as needed, for Turin," Starr said. Meeker looked at various ordinances in surrounding counties, cities and states, and "he likes Coweta County's the best."
As for Senoia, the city has never had an adult entertainment ordinance.
"And on the advice of our attorney, we were waiting to see how some of these things shake out," said Senoia Mayor Robert Belisle. "Because it is not as cut and dried as you think."
In most cases, a city will adopt an ordinance patterned after one used in another jurisdiction, Belisle said, and if that original ordinance gets overturned in court, "where are you then?"
Senoia officials have discussed the issue, though.
By not rushing to implement an ordinance, "there is some risk, but our attorney has advised us there is really a limited number of things you can do," Belisle said.
"It goes back to seeing how some of these other things shake out. It's kind of a big gray area, to some extent," he said.
Senoia City Attorney Drew Whalen "said don't get in a hurry to do anything," Belisle said, "so we're kind of waiting a little bit."
Sharpsburg, Newnan and Moreland officials are satisfied with their adult entertainment ordinances.
Newnan has no plans to make changes, at this time, said Public Information Officer Gina Snider.
Moreland's ordinance, enacted in March 2002, has a 25 percent threshold requirement for an adult business, similar to Coweta's old ordinance.
Like most ordinances, it only allows sexually-oriented businesses in industrial zones, and those businesses must be 1,500 feet away from homes, residential property, schools, churches, day-care centers, parks, and any business that sells alcohol.
"I think, at this point, it is probably sufficient for our purposes," said Moreland Town Attorney Mark Mitchell.
Sharpsburg's ordinance is similar to Moreland's.
It was adopted in 2001, said Town Clerk Donna Camp.
"It hasn't been mentioned in a long time," Camp said. "Nobody has thought anything else about it, not even since Starship has come up."
Grantville has had an ordinance for years but is considering revising it, said City Manager Scott Starnes.
Grantville City Attorney Nathan Lee, who also represents Coweta County and has been dealing with the Starship issue in Coweta, "has advised us to possibly look at redoing it," Starnes said.
Comment On This Story
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Here we go with the judging of people again. Isn't that being stereotypical? How do you know that some of the people that live on MLK, Mary Ann, and Dodson street are not good people? They just live in a bad neighborhood.
Posted by Newnan resident at 9:24 AM
Fake Joe Schmoe, stop using my god given name... Be original and take your own. Will the posers please sit down. The real Joe Schmoe doesn't care one way or the other about Starship coming. I also dont like wasted tax dollars on fighting a coverup.
Posted by Joe Schmoe at 7:08 PM
You're wasting your time. The internet still exists. You think kids don't know how to access the same things online? You'll never be able to moderate the internet like this so why waste your time?
Posted by Jake at 6:07 PM
Good for you Senoia! Proud to live in a City that makes since! Why waste our cities tax dollars on something that will get overturned in courts!!
Posted by ryan at 7:47 AM
I dont understand why coweta county is so afraid of starship. Its not like they are trying to open up a strip club. Its a sexually oriented store.... so what?
Posted by Nicholas at 1:55 AM
When I read all these post I just don't get the idea that only christians are angry about the adult store issue. if Starship did not have that up in your face sign out on the highway then it probably would have gone unnoticed, but then Rogers planned it that way.win or loose he walks away with money. we need to thank our past 4th distric commisioner(female) for this debacle and remember her if she tries to run for anything else.
Posted by joe schmoe at 9:36 PM
Is Senoia really the only town with some sense? How much tax money do we plan to use to fight a store opening. It's going to open anyway eventually and the excuse of hurting our children makes no sense. Passing by a store is not the same as going in, and gas stations and many other places already sell pipes, porn, beer or many other thing that offend all extreme right wing christians.
Posted by Holt at 7:21 PM
It's crazy to support this county officials that want to waste the tax payers money. If you don't like Starship or any adult store, don't support them by buying anything... Giving away our freedoms is moving backwards.
Posted by where's the freedom at 6:45 PM
Walmart doesn't sell gay porn either. What a lame comparison !
Posted by DB at 5:42 PM
Walmart doesn't sell porn and drug paraphenalia like starship
Posted by kenny at 3:40 PM
People need to show up to the June 16 Coweta County commisioners meeting concerning the Star ship issue. this is not about morals or christians, but zoning issues. keep the adult stuff away from our children! if the suceed at Thomsa Crossroads then your town is next.
Posted by joe schmoe at 2:09 PM
On Northside Dr in Atlanta, inside 75 (close to strip joint & choice clientele) a "Starship"adult store had closed it doors. Lovely spot too, with all the charm of a 3rd world barrio. Ironically, a lack of interest could take it down.
Posted by united we stand at 2:00 PM
Just be patient John, I think after Starship opens then you will see a strip club coming to the old Save Rite building. perfect building and location.
Posted by joe schmoe at 1:49 PM
you're right, that would set off the area perfectly with the starship, a pawn shop, lots of places to buy lotto, and a strip joint would add that just perfect touch - looks like Hwy 85 in Riverdale or maybe even Stewart Avenue - need a couple of seedy hotels and 4 or 5 used car lots though to be really complete.
Posted by Bornagain at 1:24 PM
Senoia's right... Why waste money on something that will be overturned by the courts? Just more money defending ordinances that are illegal.
Posted by Pepe at 11:55 AM
At least they are trying to preserve their community's property value. Too little too late for those who oppose Starship, I fear what this store and it's customers will bring to our community. Go open your store in the already infested areas of the county (how about MLK and Dodson/Mary Ann streets? you would fit right in there!)
Posted by guess I know where to move next time! at 11:54 AM
it is a store for goodness sake. It is like the hundreds of other stores that we have in Newnan. If you don't like their products don't go in. It is like Wal Mart if you prefer KMart then don't shop Wal Mart. It is that simple. To much money and stress has gone into this issue. One would think that with the troubles of this world we would have other thing to worry about other than who is shopping at Starship.
Posted by Vicki Carpenter at 10:28 AM
I wish I could call the actions of Turin & Haralson forward thinking but it's really just more reactionary government. They said the only reason they're acting is because of the Starship hubbub. I agree with Gene: update your ordinances, review these things on a regular basis and actually DO something, be proactive and PLAN AHEAD. Isn't that the job of these governments... or supposed to be? If only Coweta had done so. Sorry Kenneth, I can't support Coweta Commissioners who turned this into the biggest mess we've seen lately. Had someone, anyone had the right type of ordinance in place from the get-go, Starship wouldn't be opening here & all those tax dollars wouldn't have been wasted trying to undo something that was never done right from the start.
Posted by Over it at 10:15 AM
We need a strip club!
Posted by John at 9:59 AM
I find it deplorable that local government entities do not or has not updated or revised their ordinances on a regular basis. Your concerns should be how certain enterprises will/could affect the community and citizens of your local areas. It would behoove you to step up and endorse stringent ordinances. If not, the consequences of the effects of such enterprises may affect your communities in ways that could move you from a complementary community or one in which homeowners chose to avoid. To those who oppose these statements, unless you have factual, informed statistics to show how this complements a neighborhood, please spare me meaningless chatter.
Posted by Gene at 9:24 AM
the best offense is a good defense, which does not mean waiting around and doing nothing. I have yet to hear how it benefits anyone to have Starship at Thomas Crossroads. Support our commissioners!
Posted by Kenneth at 8:40 AM
Senoia looks like they have great lawyers and they are saving the locals a lot of tax dollars that Coweta has wasted on this issue already.
Posted by Dyark at 1:46 AM
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RE: good for them
6/2/2009
Link To This Comment
never said they were 'bad' people. Funny how you think we are judgemental for not wanting OUR neighborhood and our homes to turn into a horrible neighborhood. I paid for my home and I pay taxes. It has nothing to do with religion, our area (TCrossrads) is NOT zoned for such a store period.
Posted by ahem at 12:23 AM