Even if it loses half its parking lot, a proposed Tempe strip club may still be too close to recreational and youth-oriented businesses, officials said Wednesday.
Members of the Rio Salado Advisory Commission Development Review Committee and city staff said they would verify whether splitting the parking lot in half would let Elite Cabaret comply with Tempe's zoning code.
The club would be located at 910 N. McClintock Drive in a building that formerly housed Boston's Night Club and Club Macarena.
The zoning code requires adult-oriented businesses to be at least 1,000 feet away from schools, churches, parks and similar facilities, said Lisa Collins, a city planning director.
"What is being proposed is to leave the building there and completely re-create the parking lot," said Kevin O'Melia, a senior planner for Tempe.
Part of the parking lot would be split off from the property and would create additional space between the club and a public park, he said.
Without the lot split, the club would be about 800 feet from the park, said commission member Jim Lemmon.
But based on his measurements, Lemmon said the property would still be less than 1,000 feet from other family-oriented businesses after the split.
"It's a place where minors gather," he said. "[Elite Cabaret] may not be appropriate because of those other existing uses."
Other businesses close to the strip-club site include a drive-in movie theater, a water park and a shopping center currently under construction.
Lemmon said he was also concerned about whether there would be enough parking spaces.
Collins said the city's planning department would decide whether to approve the lot split.
If the split is approved and the property complies with building safety codes, the property owner could then get the necessary permits to open up the strip club, she said.
Jeff Minor, the property owner, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Reach the reporter at grayson.steinberg@asu.edu.
