Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Seattle Sun as your source.

Rick's rezone approved

A contentious rezone application by a Lake City topless club has finally received City Council approval.

The council voted 5-4 on June 16 to rezone a parcel behind Rick's Nightclub at 13322 Lake City Way. The zoning change will allow the club to use nine spaces on the property for employee parking.

This was the club's third try. Previous rezone attempts in 1989 and 1998 were rejected, due in part to opposition from neighbors who also fought the latest bid.

Rezone supporters cited an agreement between the City and the club that will restrict use of the parcel to employee parking, require a parking attendant to be on duty after 6 p.m. and mandate construction of a wall between the lot and neighboring properties. "I think that this issue is one that's worthy of solutions from the City, instead of the status quo," said Council member Heidi Wills.

But Council President Peter Steinbrueck, who voted against the rezone in 1998, said he saw no change in circumstances to justify changing his vote.

Wills, Nicastro, Compton, Richard McIver, and Jan Drago voted in favor of the rezone; Steinbrueck, Richard Conlin, Nick Licata and Margaret Pageler voted against it.