FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Another town has taken a pre-emptive strike against adult businesses by instituting new zoning regulations that restrict where such businesses may be located.
The Flowery Branch City Council repealed its existing adult business ordinance Tuesday, according to the Gainesville Times, and passed a new one limiting their proximity to places such as churches, schools and parks.
"It just kind of brings us up to date to match our zoning ordinance," Mayor Diane Hirling told the Times. The city revised its general zoning regulations in late 2006 detailing where an array of specific businesses are allowed to operate, and Hirling said this new ordinance was designed to bring regulations for adult businesses into line with those.
No adult businesses have attempted to open in Flowery Branch, but the restrictions imposed by the new ordinance say that they may not be located within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, school, religious institution, another adult business or any government building including public parks, hospitals, libraries or children's day care centers.
The distance restrictions are the only real changes from the city's old adult ordinance. Regulations carried over are that adult businesses may not operate between midnight and 8 a.m. or serve alcohol, and must be located in a manufacture industrial zone.
"It's not that we're trying to keep them out," Hirling said. "We're just keeping them away from schools and churches."
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