GARDEN GROVE : Juice Bar With Nude Dancers Rejected

For the second time this year, the City Council this week unanimously rejected a proposal by the owner of an adult bookstore to open a juice bar featuring nude dancers.

Council members cited a parking shortage and a recently approved zoning ordinance outlawing adult entertainment in residential areas in turning down bookstore owner Waldon R. Welty’s proposal. Welty had proposed demolishing his adult bookstore and arcade to make room for the new business.

Welty filed a lawsuit against the city after the council turned down his proposal in January. A Superior Court judge ordered the city to reconsider Welty’s application on the grounds that zoning allowed “adult activity” businesses in the area and that the city did not present enough evidence to buttress the council’s January decision.

Since then, the council approved new zoning for the area and the city gathered more evidence and again turned down Welty’s petition. After Tuesday’s vote, Welty’s attorney, Roger Jon Diamond, accused the city of setting up illegal “roadblocks”--specifically, the parking regulations and the new zoning--aimed specifically at adult businesses.

Diamond, who claims Welty satisfied parking requirements by scaling down his two-story, 3,747-square-foot building in the 8100 block of Garden Grove Boulevard, hinted he’ll also contest this week’s denial in court.

The council’s vote came after neighbors lodged a litany of complaints of alleged X-rated activities in the area. Waiting until about midnight to state their position and await the council’s vote, they complained that the problems would only get worse if the bar featuring exotic nude dancers was permitted.

Roger Brewer, pastor of the Garden Grove Church of God, which is half a mile from the site, said the bar would cause an increase in crime. He also said it would prey upon moral weaknesses “and we don’t need those people patrolling the streets.”

Neighbor Charles Kelly urged officials to take action to improve standards. His children already have found used condoms, pornographic books and used syringes in his yard, he said.

Attorney Diamond said the nude bar and new two-story building would be a big improvement over the current “ugly” bookstore and arcade building.