An ordinance that would allow area sex shops needs to go through one more passage before it's written into law. Concerned resident in the rural King George County have opposed, but according to the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star, the county's Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The ordinance would not be without its restrictions. According to the report, if the ordinance is passed by the Board of Supervisors, it would restrict sex shops to industrial zones and require owners to obtain a special exception permit in order to open.
The Free Lance Star went on to say that two shops would not be allowed within 500 feet of each other or within 2,000 feet of churches, schools, playgrounds, day care facilities and nursing homes. Buildings would be limited to one, 8-square-foot sign.
For concerned residents who spoke openly at the meeting, however, the restrictions simply weren't enough.
Vice Chairwoman Karla Frank, continued the report, quieted voices by both disagreeing with their demands and calling verbal attacks on the board "unfair." She and other commission members defended the ordinance.
"At this very moment, those businesses can come into this county because there is no regulation we need to find a way to regulate," she said. "We are going by what the commonwealth and the county attorney advised us to do."
At-large member Gary Kendrick agreed.
"If we can't write something that makes it impossible for a sexually oriented business to relocate here, then we need to write something that makes it as difficult as possible."
According to the Free Lance Star, supervisors initially sought the ordinance as a proactive means of regulating businesses that may come into the county--there are none in King George now.
