The Uptowne Olds committee, which opposed a bylaw amendment to allow “adult entertainment” – which could include strippers – in the Texas Mickey bar, says they'll live with town council's decision to allow it there.
Texas Mickey bar owner Jen Casavant applied for the bylaw amendment earlier this year, saying business at her bar is down 50 per cent as a result of the economic downturn and she needs to do something to save it.
During a public hearing on Monday, May 9, council passed the bylaw amendment by a 4-2 vote. Councillors Harvey Walsh and Rudy Durieux voted against it. Coun. Mary Anne Overwater was absent for that meeting.
The bylaw amendment does allow "adult entertainment establishment" as a permitted use, but it's “site-specific,” only allowing it at 4710 50 Ave. (the Texas Mickey bar).
If Casavant decides to make use of that amendment she will have to submit a development permit application for a change of use, adding "adult entertainment establishment" to the property.
The permit can be approved, approved with conditions, or denied.
“As a group we had voted against it because it didn't fit the Uptowne mandate,” Uptowne chair Leon Durand said during an Uptowne committee meeting last week.
“It's a kind of democratic thing, I guess,” he said, noting the public hearing featured people for and against it – in person and in the form of letters.
“You roll with the punches. That's pretty much what it is,” he said. “You hold a vote; the majority vote for it. Then you roll with the punches and get on with life. We'll adapt and we'll survive,” Durand added.
"You hold a vote; the majority vote for it. Then you roll with the punches and get on with life. We'll adapt and we'll survive."LEON DURANDCHAIR UPTOWNE OLDS COMMITTEE
