Only owner can decide future
of sexually oriented business
TO THE EDITOR,
I appreciate and share Toledo Free Press’ enthusiasm for the growth of Downtown Toledo. The area Tom Pounds mentioned (“Addition by subtraction,” June 3) surrounding the Monroe/Huron intersection certainly has been energized by private and public investment and serves as a wonderful hub of activity for Downtown.
Adult establishments, classified as “sexually oriented businesses” under the Toledo Zoning Code, are permitted in the Downtown Commercial zoning district subject to spacing requirements.
As noted in your column, these businesses are required to be 500 feet from any residential zoning district, church or use established specifically for the activities of minors, such as schools and parks, and 1,000 feet from any other sexually oriented business.
We checked on the spacing requirements and determined that the business at 715 Monroe is 530 feet from Fifth Third Field and approximately 700 feet from Glass City Academy.
As much as I share your desire to keep downtown “family friendly,” there does not appear to be any legal basis for disapproving the zoning permit.
Your suggestions regarding creating a sexually oriented business-free zone or prohibiting a sexually oriented business within so many feet of a sports arena could not be applied retroactively, so ultimately it will be up to the building owner to decide if the proposed sexually oriented business opens at 715 Monroe. ✯
TOM LEMON, AICP
Director, Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Closing of Raceway Park is a loss
TO THE EDITOR,
There is much talk and excitement about the new casino.
However, what is being overlooked in all the exciting newsmstories about the grand opening is the price we paid for the new casino.
As some people may remember, Raceway Park is set to close its doors soon. The new casino, while adding pizzazz and jobs to the other side of the river, has added blight and destruction to North Toledo.
Our concerns about Raceway Park were subdued in the initial casino proposal when Penn National Gaming hinted that the new facility would not adversely affect Raceway Park.
Now everyone who visits the new casino is basically they are willing to overlook that. I am not. People will argue that the new casino is a nicer facility than Raceway. They would be correct, although if Penn National put a fraction of the money they put in the new Casino into the Park it would not be so.
They might also argue that the new casino provides more jobs than Raceway Park. Again, they would be correct. But what Penn National leaves behind in its wake is the further destruction of the North End.
But really, who cares about the North End anyway? North Towne Mall is gone as well as numerous other businesses. Most Toledoans have little or no occasion to visit that blighted area and now with Raceway Park closing one less reason to visit.
If we keep playing our cards this way perhaps one day there will be nothing of interest left at all.
Does no one remember we fought a “war” with Michigan for that area? Perhaps we should give it back because it seems we don’t really want it anyway. ✯
DANIEL P. FINKEL
Toledo
