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City officials cold to club's nude dancing plan
By RILEY YATES
Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER ? An embattled Elm Street nightclub plans to begin offering nude dancing next month, a move city regulators believe may not be allowed.
Omega Entertainment Complex has posted signs on its building advertising the adult entertainment, which it says would start Aug. 26.
"Omega will become Manchester's first bottle service gentlemens club featuring nude dancing," the four signs, written in all capital letters, say.
The proposal would site a strip club in the heart of Manchester, nearly across the street from the city-owned Verizon Wireless Arena and close to a key gateway at Granite and Elm streets.
The announcement met condemnation from Mayor Frank Guinta, who said he instructed staff to look for ways to block the proposal. Regulators, meanwhile, said it likely runs afoul with city ordinances enacted in the 1990s to discourage adult entertainment coming to Manchester.
"Residents can rest assured that as long as I am mayor of Manchester, this kind of business is and will not be welcome in our city," Guinta said in a written statement.
About 10 years ago, Manchester formed adult zoning regulations in response to worries that adult bookstores were coming to the city, Planning Director Bob MacKenzie said.
While First Amendment protections of free speech likely prevent the city from banning adult clubs altogether, the rules were meant to discourage them from coming and grouping in one area, MacKenzie said.
Matthew Normand, deputy clerk for licensing and facilities, said Omega appears to fall within a residential buffer established by ordinance, likely making it ineligible to become a strip club.
The ordinance bars a sexually oriented business from being within 500 feet of a residential area or a recreational facility.
"The first hurdle I can see is probably the zoning ordinance for them," Normand said.
Normand stressed city officials are still investigating the matter; the Planning Department is measuring the distance between Omega and the closest residential area, next to Valley Cemetery at Willow and Auburn streets.
An answer should be known by tomorrow, Normand said.
Alderman Ted Gatsas of Ward 2 said Omega's proposal underscores the value of further business licensing in the city. As Senate president this year, Gatsas helped usher enabling legislation through the State House that proponents said would give more control over problem businesses.
"If there's not a city ordinance prohibiting it, we should put one into effect," said Gatsas, "because that's not what the city of Manchester is looking for."
Normand also said the Verizon could be viewed as a recreational facility. City ordinance defines a recreational facility as an entity such as the YMCA or Boy and Girls Club where minors may congregate, he said.
George Maroun Sr., the owner of Omega, did not return a phone call last night.
A spokesman for the Verizon arena said he needs to review Omega's plans.
"Ultimately, we just look for everyone to have the best business practices," said Jason Perry.
Currently, the only strip club in the Manchester area is Mark's Showplace, on South River Road in Bedford.
City officials and Omega have long butted heads. Earlier this year, the club lost a bid to renew its liquor license, after Guinta and others lobbied against it.
Recently, Guinta criticized Omega for encouraging patrons to bring their own alcohol, something state law does not prohibit.
By RILEY YATES
Union Leader Staff
MANCHESTER ? An embattled Elm Street nightclub plans to begin offering nude dancing next month, a move city regulators believe may not be allowed.
Omega Entertainment Complex has posted signs on its building advertising the adult entertainment, which it says would start Aug. 26.
"Omega will become Manchester's first bottle service gentlemens club featuring nude dancing," the four signs, written in all capital letters, say.
The proposal would site a strip club in the heart of Manchester, nearly across the street from the city-owned Verizon Wireless Arena and close to a key gateway at Granite and Elm streets.
The announcement met condemnation from Mayor Frank Guinta, who said he instructed staff to look for ways to block the proposal. Regulators, meanwhile, said it likely runs afoul with city ordinances enacted in the 1990s to discourage adult entertainment coming to Manchester.
"Residents can rest assured that as long as I am mayor of Manchester, this kind of business is and will not be welcome in our city," Guinta said in a written statement.
About 10 years ago, Manchester formed adult zoning regulations in response to worries that adult bookstores were coming to the city, Planning Director Bob MacKenzie said.
While First Amendment protections of free speech likely prevent the city from banning adult clubs altogether, the rules were meant to discourage them from coming and grouping in one area, MacKenzie said.
Matthew Normand, deputy clerk for licensing and facilities, said Omega appears to fall within a residential buffer established by ordinance, likely making it ineligible to become a strip club.
The ordinance bars a sexually oriented business from being within 500 feet of a residential area or a recreational facility.
"The first hurdle I can see is probably the zoning ordinance for them," Normand said.
Normand stressed city officials are still investigating the matter; the Planning Department is measuring the distance between Omega and the closest residential area, next to Valley Cemetery at Willow and Auburn streets.
An answer should be known by tomorrow, Normand said.
Alderman Ted Gatsas of Ward 2 said Omega's proposal underscores the value of further business licensing in the city. As Senate president this year, Gatsas helped usher enabling legislation through the State House that proponents said would give more control over problem businesses.
"If there's not a city ordinance prohibiting it, we should put one into effect," said Gatsas, "because that's not what the city of Manchester is looking for."
Normand also said the Verizon could be viewed as a recreational facility. City ordinance defines a recreational facility as an entity such as the YMCA or Boy and Girls Club where minors may congregate, he said.
George Maroun Sr., the owner of Omega, did not return a phone call last night.
A spokesman for the Verizon arena said he needs to review Omega's plans.
"Ultimately, we just look for everyone to have the best business practices," said Jason Perry.
Currently, the only strip club in the Manchester area is Mark's Showplace, on South River Road in Bedford.
City officials and Omega have long butted heads. Earlier this year, the club lost a bid to renew its liquor license, after Guinta and others lobbied against it.
Recently, Guinta criticized Omega for encouraging patrons to bring their own alcohol, something state law does not prohibit.