OGDEN -- The city council may decide tonight to take public input Oct. 27 on a proposed zoning ordinance amendment that could force three sexually oriented businesses to relocate.
The proposed amendment employs a state law that allows cities to amortize nonconforming zoning uses so that they are eventually eliminated.
There are three sexually oriented businesses in Ogden that are nonconforming, according to a report from the city's planning department staff.
Northern Exposure, 1847 Wall Ave., and the former Barebacks Strip Club, 788 Wall Ave., are nonconforming because of their proximity to a residential zone, states the report. The Light House, 315 24th St., is nonconforming because of its distance to a church and The Junction development.
If the zoning ordinance is amended, the three businesses would be permitted to operate at their present locations until at least April 30, 2010, with a possible extension period of up to three years, said Greg Montgomery, the city's planning manager.
State law allows nonconforming businesses to operate for a reasonable length of time to recover their original investment.
Northern Exposure, Barebacks and The Lighthouse have been nonconforming since 2000 when the city enacted requirements to separate the distance of sexually oriented businesses from parks, libraries, churches, schools, the Newgate Mall and the former Ogden City Mall site, which currently houses The Junction development, a city council staff report states.
Billie Triphahn, manager of The Lighthouse, said she and the owner plan to meet with city officials to discuss changing the establishment from a strip club to a conventional bar.
Gene Miconi, whose family trust owns the Barebacks building, said a sports club is going into the facility and probably won't be affected by the zoning amendment.
Officials with Northern Exposure couldn't be reached for comment.
A primary goal of the zoning amendment is to get the three establishments to move from their present locations to commercial and manufacturing zones that allow sexually oriented businesses.
The city is permitted to regulate sexually oriented businesses to mitigate their effects on crime, reduced property values and economic development.
The city council will meet at 6 p.m. on the third floor of the Municipal Building, 2549 Washington Blvd.
Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.
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