(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Planning and Zoning Commission is contemplating whether or not to make it more difficult for adult entertainment businesses to set up shop in unincorporated areas of the county.
Planning and Zoning Administrator David Kohlhaase told the P & Z Monday he isn’t aware of any such business that’s currently looking to do that, but he says it was a topic of discussion at a recent state meeting he attended.
Kohlhaase said the commission has some options available to make it more difficult for such businesses to set up shop. Currently, adult-oriented businesses are allowed as a principal permitted use. Kohlhaase said the zoning ordinance could be tightened to require a conditional use permit for such businesses. With that classification, Kohlhaase said they would be required to go before the county’s Board of Adjustment for a public hearing.
Atleast one P & Z member expressed concern, though. Tim Fairchild questions whether the county should get involved in the issue, which he says could infringe on civil rights.
After further discussion, the commission directed Assistant County Attorney Lonnie Saunders to compile information on how other counties and cities have addressed the issue and report back at a future meeting.
