LINCOLN PARK, Mich. — A crowd of about 50 gathered outside Lincoln Park City Hall Monday prior to a City Council meeting to protest a deal made by city officials with a planned Hustler Club there, according to the Detroit Free Press.
City attorney Ed Zelenak and city manager Steve Duchane signed the deal two weeks ago, resolving a lawsuit filed against the city in December by club backer Papalas Drive Development LLC. The suit claimed Lincoln Park's adult business regulations were unconstitutional.
The agreement allows the Hustler Club to open without certain restrictions originally sought by the council and exempts the club from any future ordinances that would affect its business.
The council denied a motion to toss out the settlement Monday, but voted unanimously to hold public hearings with the Planning Commission to discuss whether adult businesses should be prohibited within 2,000 feet of hotels and other lodging.
Tawnya Golematis, a protester of the deal, told the Free Press, "I don't want strip clubs to open, but if we have to have it, I don't think our rights to enforce ordinances should be given up."
Echoed Robin Lyson, wife to councilman Michael Myers, "The issue is not about stopping the entertainment facility. It's about the settlement that handcuffed our community to enforce the secondary negative effects of such a facility."
Attorney Zelenak, who was not at Monday's meeting, has defended the deal repeatedly as the best one possible for the city.
Lincoln Park Mayor Frank Vaslo backed that assessment, saying, "It's in the best interest of the community."
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