Zoning restricts sex shops in Madison

By By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
Sex shops looking to do business in Madison can do so, but they will be zoned to industrial-zoned property only.
The Madison City Council has amended its zoning law to restrict sexually oriented businesses from locating anywhere in the city to industrial-zoned property only.
Such businesses will be limited to approximately 200 acres of industrial-zoned property located on Celtic Drive and near the airport. Such businesses can't be within 1,000 feet of another sex shop or a home, nursing home, assisted living facility, mobile-home park, playground, park, golf course, country club, church, daycare center, group home, library, museum or public or private school.
In other action taken at the July 22 council meeting:
* Renamed Raye Drive to Belle Ridge Drive
The Madison City Schools Board of Education has asked that 41 acres of property, located north of Madison Boulevard and bounded by Celtic Drive, Shorter Street and the Home Place subdivision, be rezoned from medium-density residential to general business. The board plans to purchase the land, along with 10 acres next to the land already zoned general business to build a stadium and central office.