South Pittsburg board approves adult businesses ordinance

photo South Pittsburg City Administrator Sammy Burrows talks to the media in this file photo.

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - While city leaders in South Pittsburg consider outlawing sagging pants, they're also moving to make it nearly impossible for adult-oriented businesses to set up inside the city limits.

The South Pittsburg City Commission voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 751 on first reading. It considerably restricts "sexually explicit establishments which cater to an exclusively or predominately adult clientele."

At the same time, the board is considering action on an indecent exposure ordinance very similar to passed months ago in Pikeville, Tenn., prohibiting, among other things, sagging pants.

The indecent exposure ordinance is just for the board to "think over," Mayor Jane Dawkins said, but Ordinance 751 is important because it addresses concerns about the establishment of adult-oriented businesses in South Pittsburg.

At first, none of the board members or City Administrator Sammy Burrows knew who had drafted the adult business ordinance, which was studied for the first time at the board's September meeting.

"I guess it fell out of Heaven," Burrows said.

In fact, Jordan Clark, a regional planner with the Southeast Development District, created the ordinance based on existing state statutes.

The ordinance significantly hinders businesses such as adult bookstores, motion picture theaters, video establishments, cabarets, escort agencies and massage parlors, among others.

Dawkins said the "special restrictions" require that any business of that sort be at least 500 feet from any of the city's defined residential zones, public areas, places of worship, or public and private schools.

According to the lengthy ordinance, adult-oriented establishments may be operated only in industrial zones that are designated I-1.

The city's board of zoning appeals and building inspector would enforce the new rules, but finding an area that meets all those criteria inside South Pittsburg's city limits could be nearly impossible.

Commissioner Ronnie Lancaster said he wanted City Attorney Billy Gouger to examine the ordinance thoroughly since he didn't draft it and report back to the board before a second reading on it.

"We can vote on it because it's on first reading, but I want him to check it out," he said.

Dawkins said she became concerned about the issue because city leaders in nearby Kimball, Tenn., were approached years ago about allowing an adult business there before they passed a similar ordinance.

"Also, our proximity now to the [U.S. Highway 72] bypass," she said. "Lots of times, those [businesses] are located where you're coming off the main highway, and we do have these entrances [from the highway] into town. So, I felt like we should have something in place."

The ordinance requires a public hearing at the board's next meeting on Oct. 14 before a second and final vote.

"That should be rich," Dawkins said. "I know a lot of people will be here for that."

Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events