PITTSTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas last week issued an order rejecting the appeal of a sexually oriented business that sought zoning approval for a nude dance club in Pittston Township. An Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney representing residents concerned about possible adverse secondary effects from the club said the court issued the order because the township was within the law in denying the club’s application.
“The first order of business for a local government certainly includes protecting citizens from things that degrade women, harm marriages, and negatively impact children. We and the citizens of Pittston Township simply desire to protect communities from the well-documented dangers of sexually oriented businesses,” said ADF-allied attorney Randy Wenger, chief counsel of the Independence Law Center in Harrisburg.
A company which sought to build a nude dance club that would allow patrons to bring their own alcohol approached township officials earlier this year with their proposal. The officials held a hearing in which Wenger participated on behalf of several concerned residents. When the township denied zoning approval for the club, it appealed to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. With funding from ADF, Wenger and the Independence Law Center were able to intervene on behalf of the residents.
“We applaud the court’s decision,” said Wenger. “Nude dancing, especially when alcohol is involved, is not simply immoral. It increases violent and sexual crimes, as well as prostitution. We applaud the court for listening to the residents’ concerns and upholding the township’s right to deny the club’s request for approval.”
A copy of the order in
Ingot Real Estate Co. v. Board of Supervisors of Pittston Township can be read at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/PittstonTownshipOrder.pdf.
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