In a 3-2 vote, with one abstention, the Atlanta Zoning Committee voted to approve proposed legislation that would oust adult businesses along Cheshire Bridge Road by 2018.
Voting in favor were Keisha Lance Bottoms, chair of the committee; Alex Wan, co-chair and sponsor of the legislation; and Carla Smith. Voting no were Howard Shook and Ivory Lee Young. Joyce Sheperd, who arrived late to the meeting, abstained.
Next stop for the controversial legislation that has been amended numerous times before it was decided to focus solely on strip clubs and sex stores is the full City Council on June 3.
The new grassroots group QUEER UP! Atlanta is going toe-to-toe with supporters of proposed ordinances to rub out adult businesses on Cheshire Bridge Road with a petition of their own.
The group's petition is named, "Alex Wan & NPU-F's zoning proposal.: Atlanta City Council Members: Vote NO on Cheshire Bridge changes!" and is a direct response to a petition started Monday by those living in the neighborhoods surrounding the popular thoroughfare.
The group is also asking people to show up at the city's Zoning Committee meeting on May 29.
A petition popped up this week on change.org urging the Atlanta City Council to banish adult businesses on Cheshire Bridge Road.
Posted to the popular website by a group calling itself "Concerned Atlanta Residents" and made up of people living in the area, the petition states, "Adult businesses are incompatible with residential neighborhoods. Our neighborhoods were here decades before the adult businesses started appearing on Cheshire Bridge through a series of zoning loopholes and poor decisions/enforcement by the City of Atlanta."
Applause broke out in the packed Atlanta City Council chambers Thursday after the Zoning Review Board voted to deny approval...
Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan in an email today to constituents said he would only target adult businesses in his proposed rezoning ordinances for Cheshire Bridge Road. That means car washes and auto body shops, which were included in the original legislations to be zoned out, are safe for now.
He also is extending the amortization period for the adult business to five years, rather than the original two years.
A new grassroots organization named Queer Up! Atlanta is rallying people to attend the Zoning Review Board meeting on May...