MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Planning Board has taken a step toward shutting Video Sophisticate, an adult video store that has operated on the north side of the city for 12 years. According to the Milkwaukee Journal Sentinel, members of a local church group are suopporting the city's use of a zoning technicality to force the store out of business.
When owner Tony Dodge asked City Hall for permission to replace a sign on the storefront, officials noted that the business has been operating in violation of zoning codes. The original zoning for the strip center did not include adult video stores among its permitted uses, in which case the store would have to seek formal city approval to operate.
In a meeting on Monday, the Plan Commission moved unanimously to enforce the zoning law, which could force Video Sophisticate to close its doors.
According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, most people who've contacted Ald. Robert Puente, whose district includes the store, say Video Sophisticate should be allowed to continue renting and selling videos. The store has been virtually invisible to area authorities, according to city records.
According to the Journal Sentinel report, several store opponents arrived at this week's community meeting from Risen Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church to voice their opposition to the store.
Dodge told the Journal Sentinel that it was unfair to link his store to problems with the failure of other businesses in the area. Dodge said he's careful to not allow minors in the store, and said he has had few contacts with police.
The issue next goes before the Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee, and then the full council.
Legal
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