By Travis Gettys
Enquirer contributor

NEWPORT - City commissioners will vote Sept. 13 on a proposal to banish a designated adult entertainment district to a quarter-mile stretch of Licking Pike, near a junkyard.

City Commissioner Robbie Hall caught some fellow officials off-guard Monday when he announced the proposal, which he said was motivated by discussions to outline an adult entertainment zone in Campbell County.

Hall's proposal was seconded by City Commissioner Jan Knepshield, and a motion to gather more information and vote on the plan this month passed unanimously.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in separate cases that, while communities must provide zones where sexually oriented businesses may locate, municipalities may restrict those operations through zoning regulations. For example, city commissioners amended Newport's zoning ordinance in 2003 to restrict new sexually oriented businesses to the city's west side, in a low-traffic area zoned mostly for industrial use.

The move proved unpopular, however, because many residents live near the proposed adult entertainment district, which so far has not materialized.

"It was wise for the city to establish a (sexually oriented business) zone (because) it was highly unlikely that the location would generate much interest," said city attorney Michael Schulkens.

The proposed zone would allow strip clubs, adult bookstores and other sexually oriented businesses to locate on both sides of Licking Pike, between a CSX Transportation railroad overpass and Wilder city limits.

With city commissioners facing re-election in November and the city's long-range comprehensive plan scheduled for update early next year, some city officials wondered why the zoning change should be fast-tracked. "I am not against this, but I can't vote on it tonight," said City Commissioner Beth Fennell at Monday's City Commission meeting.

Campbell County Fiscal Court is expected to vote soon on sexually oriented business regulations, and city employees have been studying possible changes to Newport's adult entertainment ordinance, said City Administrator Phil Ciafardini.