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September 23, 2010

Proposal on nudity forwarded to panel

The Westbrook council's committee could make a recommendation when it meets next month.

By Edward D. Murphy emurphy@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WESTBROOK - Proposed limits on nude dancing and strip clubs in Westbrook have been sent to a City Council committee for possible action next month.

The council held an early-morning meeting Wednesday to take up the proposal, which it sent to the Committee of the Whole, made up of all seven councilors. That committee is expected to meet next month, at which time it could make a recommendation for the council.

The proposal is the city's response to a fully nude dance club, Dreamers Cabaret, that opened on Warren Avenue on Friday. City officials said they were not aware that the club's owner, The Ferrante Group, planned to offer nude dancing.

Dreamers Cabaret didn't need a business license from Westbrook because the club didn't serve food or alcohol.

The club closed on Saturday, after the city's fire inspector cited it for alleged code violations related to sprinklers, fire alarms and state construction permits. The city revoked the club's occupancy permit Monday.

The proposed ordinance would ban fully nude dancing and require a permit from Westbrook's code enforcement officer for any strip club. It also would prohibit strip clubs from operating within 500 feet of schools, playground, parks, churches and libraries.

Dreamers Cabaret, which is in Westbrook's industrial zone, meets that requirement.

The lawyer for The Ferrante Group said this week that he believes Dreamers Cabaret would be exempt from any rules adopted after it opened.

Staff Writer Edward D. Murphy can be contacted at 791-6465 or at:

emurphy@pressherald.com

 

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