Planning panel can't divine answer

By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayetteville's Planning Commission isn't yet ready to say what zoning category a psychic should operate in.

“Did he call us yet and tell us what the answer was going to be?” quipped commission Chairman Bill Talley during last week's meeting.

The city currently doesn't list psychic services as one of the allowed uses in any of its zoning categories, but a New York psychic recently phoned City Hall to ask for guidance in finding a suitable location, said city planner Jahnee Prince.

Wherever entertainment activities are allowed would be the best categories to use for psychics, said Talley. “It's not a personal service. They're not allowed to advertise themselves that way,” he said.

“If we're going to have a psychic, we should have them in a strip shopping center that already exists, not in a house that happens to be on [Ga. Highway] 85,” he added.

Talley argued for a very narrow interpretation, allowing psychics in only the most intense commercial categories, but commission member Segis Lipscomb said that would be too restrictive, suggesting that the service be allowed in all commercial zoning.

The group tabled the matter for further thought and research by the planning staff, and will discuss it again at its May 11 work session, 7 p.m. at City Hall.