LEXINGTON, S.C. — A new proposed ordinance may impact whether a gentleman’s club could be placed in Lexington County.
Street Squad Lexington is following the stories that impact your community.
On Tuesday night, the Lexington County community took to the mic at a county council public hearing to give their input on a new ordinance that would affect sexually-oriented businesses, like gentleman's clubs.
"Let me ask you, how in the world do you think a bunch of naked women is going to help that neighborhood? It's not," said one resident.
A new gentleman’s club may be coming to Fernandina Road. Some who live near the spot say they’re worried about what impact it may leave.
"It's the secondary impact that concerns me. It's the increase in crime," said one woman.
Jimmie Ellis is the property owner of a new gentleman's club that may be at 4029 Fernandina Road, near the Lexington and Richland County line. He says his business has been in the works for two years now. His property is on the Lexington County side, according to Ellis.
"I followed every single requirement,” said Ellis. “I see that this is specifically targeting my business. I was given the rules. I followed each and every one of them to the T."
Ellis and his attorney Ward Bradley say they feel like Ellis' business is being targeted after a new ordinance has been proposed.
"It's unconstitutional, it's an improper taking, and it's going to lead to a long, unpleasant, expensive fight that the county will lose," said Bradley.
The current ordinance states that a sexually-oriented business in Lexington is required to be at least 1,000 feet away from residential spots, churches, schools, and things of that nature. It also has to be 2,000 feet away from any other sexually-oriented business. The point of measure would be from the property line.
With the new ordinance, these types of businesses that are within a hundred feet of the county line would have a different starting measuring point. It wouldn't start from their property line. Instead, it would be from the county line.
Not only would property need to be at least 1,000 feet away from residential spots, churches and schools within Lexington, but also into other bordering counties.
Ellis says it would affect his gentleman's club he plans on building.
If the newly proposed ordinance passes, Ellis could appeal to the county board of zoning appeals.
He would have a set timetable to make sure his business was in conformity with the law or his business could be shut down or fined.
The proposal has not been passed at this time. There are two more meetings set for the public to provide input.