CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Members of the Oak Grove Methodist Church aren’t happy about a plan to put a porn shop just a few blocks away.

The talk of an adult book store going in on Statesville Road, just north of where it intersects with Old Statesville Road, was all the buzz at Sunday morning services.

Under Charlotte ordinances, adult shops can’t be within 1,500 feet of churches or schools.

A porn shop owner who already operates a store on Central Avenue is petitioning the Charlotte’s Zoning Board to re-zone the area where he wants to open shop.

It is within 1,500 feet, but that’s on a direct line. The argument is, if you take roads to get there, it actually exceeds the 1,500 boundary.

Pastor Bob Symanski said no one at the church wants the shop anywhere close by. “They don’t want that kind of thing in the neighborhood. It detracts from the area, and it’s also a faith matter for us,” said Symanski.

The hearing will be this Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Government Center.

Symanski said a number of patrons from his church will attend the hearing to let the board know they’re opposed to the idea.