The "Gentlemen's" Club

I encourage the New Buffalo Planning Commission in regards to the proposed "Gentlemen's Club" to uphold their existing zoning ordinance and recommend denial of a special land use permit allowing the N.O.I. Inc to build/open a strip club. The existing zoning ordinance calls for sexual oriented businesses to be 1000 feet from residences as well as businesses serving alcohol which the N.O.I. Inc. proposed establishment does not meet.

Our community is supposed to believe that the proposed club will be a high quality multimillion-dollar business. Yet, the proprietor, Dave Roberts, couldn't even answer basic questions such as the number of proposed employees or whether or not the business would provide lap dances. When asked, Roberts couldn't even vocalize a list of investors. When Roberts was asked how many investors have invested over 20%, he stated only he and his wife. By his own admission, he has no experience running a sexually oriented business (S.O.B.). Something appears fishy here. Roberts is requesting a topless bar, but when the board asked if lap dances would be provided, Mr. Roberts' only answer was that he would do everything within the law and his attorney, Mr. Mark LaRose, informed the board that full nudity is legal. So should we expect a full-nudity lounge club? We are made to believe that local attorney, Mark LaRose, is only representing Roberts; however LaRose's own choice of words have created questions as to the extent of his involvement. Mr. LaRose stated "I guarantee you if you put reasonable, understandable, safe restrictions on this business, they will be complied with." Let me ask a question. If you are only an attorney representing a client, how can you guarantee such a thing? Unless perhaps you are part owner, silent partner, or investor that actually has a say in how the business will be run? Additionally and even more revealing, LaRose continued "When a guy gets out the back door of McDonalds or Casey's, or some other of the establishments in town; we can't guarantee what that guy or woman will do but while they're in OUR establishment, WE can guarantee that WE'LL do the best WE can to follow the law and prosecute those that don't" (emphasis added). Notice that LaRose doesn't say, "my client's establishment, my client can guarantee, or that my client can do the best. It seems obvious that the involvement of LaRose is deeper than we are made to believe. Their attempt to keep us in the dark not only forms mistrust to the actual extent of the S.O.B., but also fails to provide any form of confidence that this business will be run according to the law. I also would like to know, in what capacity, if any, Mr. Alan Gull, the owner of the property for the proposed strip club is involved.

We are made to believe that legally we cannot prevent this S.O.B. from coming to our community. I disagree. The Michigan State Supreme Court has already provided precedence by rulings that a subsequent zoning ordinance can be enforced, even when proprietor was already given a building permit; as well as a ruling that when an application for a permit is pending and rezoning takes place before the permit is issued, no prior right exists. Whatever the recommendation of the New Buffalo Planning Commission will be, I encourage the New Buffalo Township Board to deny the special land use permit based on the fact that the S.O.B. fails to meet the existing zoning ordinance. I encourage the Board to uphold their existing ordinances and avoid being bullied by the threat of a lawsuit. If the board denies the application and N.O.I. Inc files a lawsuit against New Buffalo Township, just as I have organized grass-roots movements in the past, I am willing, if necessary, to form a group of citizens opposed to the strip joint to do what is necessary to support the township's legal battle. I didn't back down from a fight against the United States Federal Government and I'm not about to back down from a fight against some N.O.I. Inc. - and neither should any others opposed to this strip joint.