Woman applies for adult video business; neighboring businessman opposes application at City Council meeting

Iva Butler
The Daily Times Staff

A woman has applied to locate a sexually-oriented business at 2642 U.S. 411 South in the city of Maryville, a move an adjacent business owner opposes.This would be the first such business within the city limits.Deborah Yantis wants to locate her business, Sunshine Video, closer to town, said Maryville Development Services Director John Jagger. Sunshine Video was previously located at the intersection of U.S. 411 South, Clover Hill Mill Road and Calderwood Highway in Blount County. David Church, operator of Tae Kwan Do America, 2640 U.S. 411 South, voiced his objections to the business locating near his at a Maryville City Council meeting Tuesday night.Church said his business is located in a building that also houses an insurance agency. Yantis wants to open the sexually-oriented business in a separate building behind his which also houses a pet grooming business.Church said 85 percent of his students are age 4 to 16. "My families are pretty concerned and upset with this. You don't want to bring your children to that location," he said. Church said he has told 10 families who have children enrolled at his school of the issue. He plans to hold a meeting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at the school to inform the rest of the families.Church said opening the business at that location is against the city code, which requires it be 1,000 feet from a family-oriented business.However, city attorney Melanie Davis said, "Our quandary is that this type of business is protected by the federal constitution and free expression. We cannot tell them they cannot locate in the city of Maryville."Ordinance has problemsThe city's sexually-oriented business ordinance was adopted in 1999 and is problematic in that there are too few potential locations, she said.The current law permits the use only in the Business/Transportation Zone, which runs along Lamar Alexander Parkway and U.S. 411 South.Such businesses have to be at least 1,000 feet from churches, schools and residences, she said. She said additional protections, such as banning what can go in windows and on the sign, may be added. She expects several follow-up ordinances to be considered."The city is going to have to open more areas," Davis said. She expects the 1,000-foot rule to be cut to 500 feet. The issue will have to come before Maryville Planning Commission and then Maryville City Council for any changes to be made.In further action, council:� Approved on second and final reading annexation of Camellia Trace Drive, which is located off West Lamar Alexander Parkway. The property was rezoned from County Suburbanizing to City High Density Residential and will include a Parkway District Overlay Zone.