News | Peachtree City

PTC limits adult stores to industrial zoning

Fri, 01/23/2009 - 2:53pm
By: John Munford

If a business such as Starship Enterprise tried to locate in Peachtree City, its options would be limited by zoning laws. By city ordinance, any store selling adult sex toys would be considered a “sexually oriented business.”

Sexually oriented businesses can only be operated on land zoned for general industrial use, according to city ordinance.

Among a host of other regulations, the city forbids any sexually oriented business from being located within 1,500 feet of any school, religious institution, public park, day care center or residential property. That distance is measured from the closest point on the property line of both parcels, according to the ordinance. Such a business must also be 1,000 feet away from any other sexually oriented business, the ordinance states.

Peachtree City also requires applicants to submit their fingerprints and a criminal background check when applying for a permit to operate a sexually-oriented business. After the license request is filed, the city has 45 days to notify the applicant whether or not the license will be granted, according to the ordinance.

Also the city can deny such a business license if the applicant has been convicted for a variety of different sexually-related crimes such as sexual assault, prostitution, sex crimes against children and others.

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Starship's carding regs
Submitted by ptcmom678 on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 6:27am.

I was curious, so I checked on Starship's age limits with my 19 year old (since I have two younger kids). He told me that Starship religiously cards at the front door and hires over 21 clerks only. This was kind of impressive considering that I have had to take Mature video games back to Game Stop where they DON'T check IDs. Books-A-Million doesn't check IDs on their mature titles and has the erotica and sexuality books right in there with all the other books. Look at all the restaurants stung recently for underage drinking. ALSO, drive through Braelinn and see how the empty storefronts outnumber the tenanted ones. It's the same picture at formerly thriving Wilshire. There are empty places at The Avenue.

My personal bottom line is that if the place in question realizes their window displays need to be family-appropriate and if they card better than some local restaurants and retail places, they are more than welcome in one of these empty spots. Just because it's there, doesn't mean you have to go in.

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perfect!
common tater's picture
Submitted by common tater on Sun, 01/25/2009 - 12:40am.

I think an industrial zone would be the perfect place for an adult store. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Kids aren't going to be peeking in the windows while mom is shopping at the Hallmark store or getting a burrito or whatever. People can be a little more discreet when they're getting their goods and not have their neighbors drive by the parking lot and say, "hey, Bob must be in the market for some new porno". Just because it's PTC doesn't mean folks don't like to get a little freaky....I hope!


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starship
diablo_ogre's picture
Submitted by diablo_ogre on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 4:14pm.

I stopped at the starship on old national on my way home last night to check out part of this controversy myself. I have to say if it was in an industrial park it is not blatant at all in its content. All the windows were blacked out so you couldn't see inside except for a neon open sign and the sign above the door. In fact I thought they were close at fist because it appeared so dark. I think the business would do well in PTC because there are tons of closet freaks here lol.


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Adult Business
Submitted by DB on Sat, 01/24/2009 - 10:15am.

Peachtree City Residents be aware of the details of this issue. The owner of Starship argues that is store is NOT an adult store and therefore can locate anywhere in Coweta County. This is because of the clause in the ordinance that says an adult business is defined as having 25% or more 'Adult' products. and guess what ? Peachtree City's ordinance is exactly the same as Coweta County's. If you don't believe me go to this link:
http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=11414&sid=10
and look at Chapter 10 Article II-32. The key words here are "substantial business purpose" which is defined by the 25% or more clause.
What this means is that you can confine an "Adult" business to industrial zoning all you want but this guy is saying his porn shop is not an adult business. If you don't want a Starship in PC, then you might want to get your City Council to adopt and ordinance similar to the one Newnan has. Newnan's ordinance is much more restrictive (5% adult for one) and will be much harder for him to get around.

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