Decision on Proposed Ordinances to Limit Cheshire Bridge Adult Businesses Deferred Until May

A decision on a pair of proposed ordinances designed to limit adult businesses along the Cheshire Bridge Corridor, which stretches along the road from Piedmont to Lavista roads, has been delayed again.

The ordinances were proposed by City Councilman Alex Wan in November to limit “non-conforming” businesses, such as strip clubs and adult video stores, along the Corridor. The ordinance will also affect non-conforming businesses such as car repair shops and car washes as well.

In January, the city Zoning Review Board tabled the two ordinances until its meeting, which was held March 7. However, Wan requested an additional 60-day delay on the decision.

“I have requested that the matter be deferred an additional 60 days until May to provide us more time to continue exploring our options,” Wan explained in a March newsletter.

Some business owners along the Cheshire Bridge Corridor are preparing to take legal action to  have a pair of proposed city ordinances deemed “unconstitutional” or at least, unlawful.

Wan said he plans to meet with the city’s law department before the May ZRB meeting.

He said that if the proposed legislation passes, “I’d totally expect there most likely to be some litigation from an affected party.” 

In a recent letter to his constituents, Wan wrote that he introduced the legislation “in efforts to remove barriers to the realization of the community’s vision for the Cheshire Bridge Road corridor.” The proposed ordinances mandate that business not conforming with the area’s neighborhood commercial zoning requirements, first implemented in 2005, must meet the requirements or move by as early as 2015.

Buckhead Patch spoke to a handful of owners of Cheshire Bridge Road businesses who had concerns, but did not want “to ruffle any feathers” by being quoted by a news source right now.

Businesses like New Baby Products will not be affected, Wan said, because the proposed ordinances will focus on non-conforming uses, not non-conforming structures.

New Baby Products, which has operated at its Cheshire Bridge location for the last 40 years, is a non-conforming structure.

One business owner told Buckhead Patch that while the proposed ordinances have their supporters and detractors, they have brought the business community along the Corridor together.

Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, Sachi Nakato of Nakato Restaurant said “It’s been a great opportunity for the Cheshire Bridge Road businesses to come together… It’s given everyone the ability to voice their thoughts on how to better the community in their eyes, and that side of communication was lacking in the past.”

VaHi Patch wants to hear your thoughts on the proposed ordinances.

What will happen to the Corridor once it’s dotted with large vacant buildings? Who exactly is the target demographic for the Corridor and who does the community of business owners and residents want it to be? Will these proposed ordinances help the Corridor reach that demographic? Tell us in the comments below.