Fresno- People that work around here say the store actually opened for business, but never went through the proper channels with the city. The city shut it down and now owners are trying to re-open the adult business store.

Fresno’s planning commission recently granted this downtown adult book store a permit. Commissioners said they had no choice; it meets all of the criteria.

* It’s not within a thousand feet of a school, church or playground. * It’s in the middle of an area zoned industrial. o Except there are 7 homes in that industrial area that were built before the zoning change.

Now, Fresno City Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling [pictured] is fighting for them.

“I just don’t want it in the neighborhood that we’re trying to develop where we have so many problems.”

Sterling says downtown Fresno’s reputation is already bad with the homeless problem, gangs, prostitution and drug trafficking. An adult book store would only interfere with the city’s master plan to redevelop Chinatown, the Armenian Town Project and possibly the South Stadium project.

She said, “There is a place for everything, everyone has the right to their freedom of expression, but it’s just not good land use planning for us at this time.”

The issue was to before the City Council this week. Andy Souza, Fresno City Manager said, “We’re gonna ask council to place a temporary moratorium, give us a chance to take a look at this.”

Souza says a moratorium would allow the city to change the wording of the city ordinance or find another more appropriate place for the adult oriented store.

Jesse Sousana manages Wildcat Enterprises on the corner of Fresno and G street. He disagrees with critics who say these businesses attract trouble.

“I think actually the opposite has been the case. When you run a business like this with transparency and respect for the law when things like that happen you take action right away.”

We tried to get in touch with the business owner and his representative, but weren’t able to reach them. Councilmember’s have three options tomorrow; they can approve or deny the use permit, or place a moratorium that would give the city more time to figure out what to do.