Dear All,

The NEW hearing date for Southwestern Video/Adult Boutique has been set for WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24th at 10:00 a.m.   The location is 111 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, Room 106 (first floor).  

Halethorpe Improvement Association initiated a complaint against this business back in November based on their violation of specific Baltimore County zoning laws.  Our complaint and subsequent hearing is intended to bring them into compliance with the law.  The law states that video/book stores are permitted to allot no more than 20% of their floor space for displaying of adult material (usually pornographic) and only in a separate room if located within 1000 ft of a school church, residence daycare center, or a park.  This business has dedicated 100% of its floor space to adult material.  Over half of that space has been converted into viewing booths, which also violates other zoning laws.  A 1000 ft radius around the Adult Boutique encompasses 1 school, 4 churches, and about 200 residences (Ascension Catholic School, Ascension Catholic Church, Halethorpe/Relay Methodist Church, Halethorpe Community Church, and Arbutus Baptist Church).  Most of their exterior signage has no permits, which violates other zoning laws.  The addition on the rear of the building is also in question.  As mentioned before, the clientele that this business draws poses a danger to our children, especially when considering the sexual activity that is encouraged between them in the viewing booths by the owner.  

The residents of Halethorpe are simply demanding the business owner to immediately and continually follow the Baltimore County zoning laws or to relocate to a properly zoned area designed to accommodate such businesses if he cannot comply. An outpouring of concerned citizens through a petition and attendance at the hearing will favor our purpose.  

HIA is hiring a shuttle bus to accommodate anyone that would like to attend this hearing, at  no charge .  It will leave the Arbutus Town Hall parking lot or the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department at 9:00 a.m. the morning of and return probably between 12 noon and 1 p.m.  In the event that the bus gets full, HIA members will be given preference.  If you plan on riding the bus to and from the hearing, please contact me to reserve a seat ASAP so that the proper bus size can be reserved.  Please inform those concerned citizens that don't have email of this.  

Also please contact me if you could distribute a petition for us. Mike McAuliffe HIA President 410-247-9470 email: halethorpe_improvement_assoc@verizon.net