The decision to reject three zoning applications for a strip club on Stimson Avenue was upheld unanimously at last night's Athens City Board of Zoning Appeals meeting.
The board said that Code Enforcement Director Steve Pierson had acted correctly because he had upheld its previous decision.
All we've heard this evening is the same we heard last time
said board Chairwoman Muriel Frederick.
Shade, Ohio, resident Chris Stotts submitted the original application for 9, 11 and 13 W. Stimson Ave. on Dec. 17 to Pierson, who forwarded it to the board. The board turned down the application at its March 11 meeting because it found that the club did not fit the character of the street or any of the uses permitted by city codes.
Stotts then appealed this decision to the Athens County Court of Common Pleas and submitted the three new applications with the specified uses for entertainment, a night club or theater on March 14. Pierson turned down the new applications based on the board's previous decision.
Stotts then appealed that decision to the board because the three uses are permitted according to city code, said Scott Mergenthaler, Stotts' attorney.
There were slight differences in the new applications, including specified uses, number of seats and the exclusion of 9 W. Stimson Ave. That address has already been approved for a luxury used auto dealership, said property owner Demetrios Prokos.
Stotts said he plans to appeal the board's latest decision to the Court of Common Pleas, where the cases will be consolidated.
Prokos is simultaneously pursuing plans for the club as well as an apartment, shopping and restaurant complex, although he said last night that pursuing these plans is costing him thousands of dollars because of application and architect fees.
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Brigitta Burks
