The Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved major changes to the county code governing the operation of sexually oriented businesses.
Commissioners adopted the new ordinance provisions on its consent agenda, and after a second required public hearing attracted no speakers.
The code amendments would limit sex shops and other adult businesses to two industrial zoning categories. All such businesses would be required to obtain a special license and employees would have to be issued a special permit.
(You can read through the code amendments here. Reader discretion is advised, since there are some explicit descriptions of sexual acts, body parts and devices.)
The aim is to combat what a lawyer consulting with the Cobb County Attorney’s office calls the “adverse secondary effects” of sexually oriented businesses, including crime and loitering, to nearby areas.
The changes come after Tokyo Valentino, an Atlanta-based adult retail chain, opened a store on Johnson Ferry Road in the former Mattress Firm location across from Merchant’s Walk.
The store was granted a business license as a general retail operation under the name 1290 Clothing Co., but opened as Tokyo Valentino.
Another Tokyo Valentino store opened in Sandy Springs last year under similar circumstances.
The ordinance changes also prohibit sexually oriented businesses from operating within 750 feet of residentially zoned land, within 1,500 feet of a school, religious facility, government-owned or run building, 1,000 feet of another sexually oriented business and 500 feet of another business licensed to sell alcohol, either on premises or a package store.
While nobody spoke in favor of or against the code amendments during the public hearings, Daniel White, who began an online petition against Tokyo Valentino, told East Cobb News he was sending a written statement in support of the measures.
Here’s what he submitted for the record:
“Based on the short notice and change to live public comments vs. online comments, I am submitting this on behalf of the 2,906 people who have signed the change.org petition to reject the sex shop on Johnson Ferry. I believe good can come from this for all Cobb County residents and not just the residents of East Cobb. The well researched common sense changes to the ordinance have our support to—as well outlined—establish reasonable and uniform regulations that prevent the secondary deleterious effects of these businesses in residential areas.
“These regulations are limiting and not prohibitive. They allow for the rights to operate these businesses and take into consideration common sense conditions for operating. Since the shop has opened it has installed outdoor color changing strobe like dance lights on the front and parked a large explicit mobile sign in front as well. We are certain that these ‘near legal tactics’ will continue. The sexually oriented permanent sign is tragedy to the progress we have made in the awareness of sexualizing and exploiting women. It’s tasteless and taunting. If the owner wanted to work with the community he would not continue to lie and hide.
“In thIs meeting of Cobb County commissioners, we support the affirmative vote on the sweeping changes to the Cobb County sexually oriented business ordinances effectively putting these businesses where they belong—not out of business as it is their right—but out of our neighborhoods by effectively banning their operations near schools, residences, and churches.
“This means that the 2,906 people who have signed this that represent nearly 9,000 east cobb residents will have had a positive voice in government. In today’s day, you should not have to show up to a specific meeting to have your voices heard. There are so many listening avenues and I’m glad you have heard us, worked hard and found ways to balance business and resident input. The well researched 30 page document outlines the blight these businesses cause and the trouble they bring. It is naive and insulting to say that opponents of this ordinance are ‘just a bunch of moms.’ Because it is not a bunch of ‘moms’ that keep these places open and frequent them enough to stay open. It is people who go often. It’s the rule of any business and if you’re in a sex shop often you don’t need to be 3/10’s of a mile from a school or within a few hundred yards of kids walking to school, a Chick-fil-A or a Starbucks or for that matter directly across the street from an Old Navy.
“The changes make good sense.”
Related stories
- Proposed Cobb code changes target sexually oriented businesses
- Editor’s Note: Is East Cobb really so uptight about a sex shop?
- East Cobb citizens speak out against new Johnson Ferry Road store
- Empty East Cobb retail building subject of sex shop concerns
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