FONTANA, Calif. – Some area residents and city leaders have come together to shut a strip club down, as the city has accused Diamond Gentlemen’s Club of operating without a permit.
A judge will be asked to decide the legal issue on Jan. 12 in San Bernardino Superior Court. The suit was filed Aug. 31.
“Although the club operators applied for a license, it wasn't issued because of two code violations,” Planning Director Don Williams, told the dailybulletin.com. “The violations were storing semi trailers on the property and re-roofing the building without a permit.”
“The property's zoning allows adult businesses, but the owners must have a permit to operate,” Williams added.
No permit has been approved by the city for the strip club, to date, but a sign on the club indicates that it is open for business.
Attorney Ron Diamond, who represents the club owners, told the report that the city has been resistant to giving the club a permit.
"In particular, the city will not give a license to the business because the city says the zoning law bars that business at that location," Diamond told the dailybulletin.com.
City officials are also claiming that the club is too close to a residential area, as well as an elementary school. A city ordinance states that no adult-oriented business can be established or located within 400 feet of any existing residential district, park, religious institution or school.
The city's ordinance, Diamond told the report, does not provide for a sufficient number of alternative sites for adult businesses.
