Thursday, January 27, 2000
Review too late for Hustler
Official: Current zoning law likely to apply
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — The city is ready to review proposed zoning-code changes suggested by an Arizona-based law firm that advises local governments opposing sexually oriented businesses.
However, officials say it may be too late to affect the project that prompted the advice — a Hustler store to go up on the former site of a chili restaurant just off Interstate 75.
Jimmy Flynt said the plans of his and his brother, Hustler publisher Larry Flynt, are progressing. Jimmy will meet with their architect, A&E Designers of Lexington, Ky., today to help finalize the drawings for the new store, which will sell items ranging from sportswear to sex toys and X-rated videos. He hopes to submit the plans to Monroe by early February.
“Then we'll try to cooperate with the local officials and make any changes that they would wish — or at least hash it out some way,” he said. The goal is to get the four-month project started by March.
Philip Callahan, Monroe law director, said Wednesday he has received recommended changes from the Community Defense Counsel (CDC).
Council hired CDC in mid-December to review the city's zoning code to see whether it needs to be strengthened to fight sexually oriented businesses.
Mr. Callahan said he has studied CDC's suggestions, and will present recommendations to council at the Feb. 8 or Feb. 22 meeting.
“They've made some recommendations, some of which I think are feasible, some of which probably are not,” Mr. Callahan said, although he declined to be specific. “I will be coming back with some suggestions for changes to the zoning code, relatively minor changes ... not wholesale changes recommended by CDC. ... It's up to council to decide if they want to look at amendments to our zoning code or to enact new legislation.”
But the existing code likely will govern the Hustler store, Mr. Callahan said.
And even if council opts for a zoning code change, the process will take two months, he said.
Jimmy Flynt said the main objection to the store is its name.
“It's going to be a new, modern, upscale structure, with a 2000 look,” he said. “It will not be an eyesore for the community. It's going to make that area look better, a lot better. ... And I'm not going to forgo my name — Hustler — because it's a very well-known name, a valuable name.”
And while he's waiting to get that store started, Mr. Flynt said, he's nearly ready to pick a site on or near Main Street to reopen a Cincinnati store.
“People are losing sight of the fact that I'm going to be reopening back in Cincinnati before I open in Butler County,” Jimmy Flynt said. “We'll reopen there in the next 60, 90 days.”
The Flynts opened a Hustler store on Race Street in Cincinnati for a few days in November. It was ordered closed after the landlord sued them, claiming they improperly subleased the property from another tenant. Both sides agreed to end that case in early January.
The Flynts went to court to face charges of selling pornographic videos at the store, but the store corporation then pleaded guilty to pandering obscenity and agreed to stop selling videos.
“I expect the same old battle. It doesn't go away. And neither do I,” Mr. Flynt said.
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