Zoning Board Considers Plan to Remove Adult Businesses from Cheshire Bridge

The measure would give all adult businesses along the strip five years to relocate.

The measure’s sponsor, City Councilman Alex Wan, says he’s trying to honor the vision set out by his constituents.

“We did quantitative analysis that looked at the level of development and Cheshire lags and we also looked at home property values in proximity to Cheshire Bridge and they lagged as well. There’s something happening there and the legislation is based on the premise it is in part due to certain businesses being there.”

A previous version of the measure included auto repair shops and car washes. But Wan struck those after hearing from the community.  

“The presence of those particular businesses was not as big a concern to planners and community folks and to other business as the adult businesses.”

The measure still has critics. Some local business owners say Wan is imposing his morality on the community. Some in the LGBT community say Wan, who is gay, should know better.

Wan, however, doesn’t it see it that way.

“I think I don’t draw as direct a line between adult business and LGBT causes as perhaps my critics do, but that’s just my perspective.”

Wan says he wants businesses that are “more compatible” with the neighborhood’s master plan. In 1999, a task force drafted the more family-friendly plan. In 2005, the city rezoned the area to allow only establishments that encourage walking, biking, and streetside shopping.