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By BILL MURPHY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Worried the city's crackdown on sexually oriented businesses could drive some clubs to relocate to unincorporated areas, Harris County officials said they won't be any more welcoming than their Houston counterparts.
County Judge Ed Emmett said he applauds the city's tough stance on the clubs but wants the county to be ready to prevent them from setting up outside city limits.
"I want to make sure all of them don't move out of the city into the county," he said.
Commissioners Court today will discuss whether such a mass exodus is possible.
Officials say they doubt that because the county has similar regulations to the city, prohibiting sexually oriented businesses from operating near schools, day cares, parks, churches and other facilities.
"Our regulations are similar to the city's, and we'll enforce them just as aggressively," County Attorney Mike Stafford said. "A business won't gain anything by going into the county."
The city's crackdown is on hold after a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last month issued a stay of enforcement until some strip clubs' appeal of the city's distance requirement is heard.
The ruling forced the city to delay an aggressive campaign against at least 130 adult cabarets, bookstores, modeling studios and spas.
The effort came after a federal judge upheld a long-litigated ordinance prohibiting such businesses from operating near schools, parks and other facilities.
Mayor Bill White said the city's intent is not to drive clubs into unincorporated areas.
"We would like these businesses that degrade women to close down," he said. "If the county feels that it needs to strengthen whatever laws that they have, we would support folks in the county who wish to do it. Our job is to protect the residents inside the city."
Unincorporated Harris County is home to only two sexually-oriented businesses, St. James Cabaret and Houston Dolls, Stafford said.
Al Van Huff, a lawyer who represents several businesses, including Treasures, Centerfolds, Gold Cup, Trophy Club and Baby Dolls, said he doesn't foresee strip clubs moving to unincorporated areas if the courts allow the city to go ahead with the crackdown.
"The reason why they are in the city and not in the county is there is low population density in the county," he said.
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