The city is seeking public input on the Dickman Road Business Improvement District’s request to prohibit adult businesses.
Staff will hold a public meeting on this issue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Department of Public Works building, 150 S. Kendall St.
Economic development staff will provide information on how the city regulates adult business uses, discuss the specific request from the Dickman Road BID, and collect all feedback on that request. Comment sheets will be available for those who wish to attend, but not speak, and those who cannot attend are invited to email their comments to PublicInput@battlecreekmi.gov.
The Dickman Road BID request was introduced at the Sept. 6 City Commission meeting as an amendment to Chapter 1295, the city ordinance that addresses adult businesses. It is expected that the commission will vote on the amendment during the Oct. 18 regular meeting.
The Dickman Road BID spans both the city and the City of Springfield; the request only would include the city’s portion, which extends from M-66 to the western city limit, near Forest Street/Carl Avenue.
Currently, adult businesses are not allowed on Columbia Avenue, Beckley Road, and Capital Avenue SW and NE. While adult businesses are protected as a freedom of speech, the city has the authority, through zoning, to limit their locations. This is meant to address proven secondary effects those businesses have on the surrounding area – crime, economic impacts, and blight/noise.