BFLO NEWS: "Town of Tonawanda officials Monday night denied a permit for an adult entertainment cabaret and restaurant in an industrial area.
The plan was to open a restaurant and adult entertainment cabaret — featuring topless dancers and strippers — in a metal-clad building parallel to the Niagara Thruway.
Dozens of residents attended the hearing, and several stepped forward to speak out passionately against the proposal. Among them was Monsignor John I. Ducette, pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Church in the town.
“I am here because I know God is opposed to this sort of establishment,” Ducette said. “Anyone who looks with lust at a woman has committed adultery in his heart with her.”
Other residents suggested such a business would increase crimes such as drunken driving and prostitution.
“This is a shameful, shameful thing,” said Judith C. Glose of Delaware Road. “Change the ordinance. Do something . . . bring it to a referendum.”
Town Supervisor Ronald H. Moline said the request was the first adult use proposal since town lawmakers changed zoning laws approximately two decades ago to limit where such businesses could locate.
“What the Town Board did at that time was all that it could do ... and that was to restrict adult uses to the [performance standards] . . . districts,” Moline said.
Even so, town developers said Monday that it could be a detriment to development zones.
“Among other factors, the companies we are working to attract look for areas that are clean, safe, attractive and present a positive image for their business. The presence of an adult entertainment cabaret in such a visible location along the Thruway and in close proximity to an entrance ramp will certainly, in our opinion, have a negative impact on the decision of these businesses to invest in our community,” Dimmig wrote.
Town Board members voted unanimously to deny the permit application."