Centennial – City leaders Wednesday night voted 7-1 to zone a roughly 10-block area near the intersection of East Arapahoe Road and Interstate 25 for sexually oriented businesses.
The decision, which included Councilwoman Betty Ann Habig’s dissenting vote, had been anticipated and is the culmination of a year-long saga that riled hundreds of homeowners and business owners in the area.
“I think the council is pleased to have it over and done with,” Mayor Randy Pye said. “This council believes it has received more public input and opened itself to other options, and I think we have done our job to the greatest extent.”
The zone sets aside five parcels along South Emporia Street between Arapahoe and East Costilla Avenue.
Other parcels in the area were removed because of their visibility along Clinton Street from I-25 and their proximity to one of the largest churches in the city.
Among operating restrictions the council passed at earlier sessions was a 1,000-foot barrier around any large churches that have weekday services.
Habig opposed sexually oriented businesses in general and disagreed that the ordinance should specify only churches that are 10,000 square feet or larger.
“A church is a church is a church,” she has maintained.
Upon incorporating in 2001, the city inherited rules that would allow adult businesses in areas throughout Centennial. Anticipating that such businesses would eventually open, the city imposed a one-year moratorium to study where and under what conditions they could operate.
What followed was a delicate balancing act – city leaders weighing the concerns of residents who have called for a ban on adult business altogether with the constitutional rights of entrepreneurs.
The first public hearing on Aug. 15 drew more than 350 residents and business owners, a large portion of whom testified that the zoned area was too visible and attractive for adult businesses.
As a result, the council imposed several restrictions that would discourage adult businesses, including more restrictive hours of operation, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with no business on Sunday. The 1,000-foot buffer also includes schools, parks and day care centers.
Wednesday’s session was not open to further public comment, and turnout was far less than previous meetings’. Council members had said how they would vote but held off to give more public notice.
Staff writer Manny Gonzales can be reached at 303-820-1173 or mgonzales@denverpost.com.
