The Issue. A new business in Ballard, Roam Bar LLC, wants to open an “Adult Entertainment” (ie strip club) business at 5105 Ballard Avenue NW. This would change current use from restaurant/bar to adult entertainment.

If granted, the permit would allow use as a strip club, which typically includes fully nude dancers, lap & pole dancing, etc. The City of Seattle Dept of Inspection and Construction is now reviewing Roam Bar's application# 7047230-CN, so time is of the essence. 

Most neighboring Ballard businesses and community members want this permit to be denied. Please sign this petition & comment TODAY.

Impacts to Businesses. As long-time members of the Ballard community, our ties to this historic district of Seattle run deep. My husband Roger and I own the Hansen Building, a contributing business in the Ballard Avenue Landmark District, located right next to the proposed new strip club. We believe our tenants' businesses (including a health care therapy business), along with the many retail, restaurant and other small businesses on Ballard Avenue, will be severely impacted by excessive noise and behavior commonly associated with establishments where "adult entertainment" takes place. 

We believe a strip club would reduce foot traffic of shoppers, diners and to events. It would devalue Ballard Avenue as a safe and attractive place for local & greater Puget Sound residents and other visitors to spend the day or evening.

We do not believe a strip club is compatible with Ballard Avenue Landmark District guidelines: 2. “The District shall be pedestrian oriented at the street level” and 3. “The “self-contained, small-town quality of the District shall be maintained.” https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/HistoricDistricts/BallardAvenue/BLD_2015_Guidelines_June_4015.pdf

Impacts to Community members. Moreover, it's not just area businesses that will suffer but the entire community and visitors who value the safe, family-friendly environment Ballard offers.

It's well known that “adult entertainment” businesses often become hubs for ongoing prostitution, disruptive conduct, and criminal activity. 

In fact, these establishments pose an immediate threat to public peace, health, and safety, as emphasized in Seattle City Council findings:"Regulation of the adult entertainment industry is necessary because in the absence of such regulation significant criminal activity has historically and regularly occurred…. Businesses providing adult entertainment are increasingly associated with ongoing prostitution, disruptive conduct and other criminal activity….. and which constitutes an immediate threat to the public peace, health and safety.” (6.270.010 - Findings of Fact).

Few of us want to bring our children, family & friends for an afternoon of shopping, a meal out, or to Sunday Farmers Market -- in the vicinity of a strip club.

Code Reasons Permit must be denied. The change of use to an adult cabaret of this address on Ballard Avenue is not permitted by the Seattle Municipal Code (“SMC”).   The SMC prohibits new or proposed adult cabarets on property where a lot line is 800 feet from land used as open space:

 “Any lot line of property containing any proposed new or expanding adult cabaret must be 800 feet or more from any lot of property on which the following uses has been established by permit or otherwise recognized as a legally established use: community center; child care center; school, elementary or secondary; or public parks and open space use.”

SMC 23.47A.004(H).  The southern property line of the 5105 Property is less than 300 feet from designated public waterfront street end “SSE-143”.  The City has over 140 designated waterfront street ends the provide public access and open space to Seattle’s waterways. Pertinent codes and ordinances include City of Resolution No. 29370 (preserving designated street ends abutting waterways as open space for public use and access including SSE-143)[1]; see also Seattle Ordinance 119673 (codifying protection of designated street ends including SSE-143 for public open space access to shorelines). 

Shoreline street ends are “precious community assets that thrive through robust community partnerships . . . and provides everyone the opportunity to experience & enjoy the splendor of Seattle’s shorelines.”  (Seattle Right-Of-Way Improvements Manual, Chapter 5.2).  Shoreline street ends are protected as and designate for open space use.

SSE-143 has been improved with enhanced shoreline habitat and bench for public viewing and enjoyment. It is a public park and provides a public open space use. The 5105 Property is less than 300 feet from this public open space amenity. As a result, the 5105 Property may not be used as an adult cabaret.

Stop the Strip Club. We're on the brink of seeing our beloved neighborhood irrevocably marred by activities that are contrary to the safe, pedestrian-friendly charm of Ballard Avenue. It's our responsibility to protect our community and its family-friendly atmosphere. We don’t want another Aurora Avenue North atmosphere on Ballard Avenue. Please sign this petition to urge the City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection/SDCI and City Officials to consider the potential impacts on our community and to deny issuing Adult Entertainment permit 7047230-CN to Roam Bar LLC in Ballard.

Take Action Today.

1. Sign this petition to voice your concerns today.

2. Contact decision makers directly, email City of Seattle District 6 Councilperson Dan Strauss dan.strauss@seattle.gov and SDCI reviewer Sonja Brown sonja.brown@seattle.gov. 

3. Share petition link on FB, Instagram, social media and email to your friends, family and associates.

Thank You!