Wharton Co TX 2003-2004


	Wharton County, Texas 2003-2004

		County Sexually Oriented Business Regulation, December 2003


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		RESOURCES

	NAC Advisory December 24, 2003 NAC Update January 7, 2004 Location map, Wharton County, Texas Statistics, Wharton County, Texas Official web site, Wharton County Naturist Action Committee Position Paper 2000 NEF-Roper Poll SWSA Position Paper Natural Horisun, Inc. Acorn Acres

SUCCESS!

Working collaboratively, the Naturist Action Committee, local naturists and the County Attorney of Wharton County, Texas, have successfully revised a proposed regulation addressing sexually oriented businesses in the county.

The commissioners Court had agreed to postpone its consideration of the regulation, pending the revision. The proposed regulation had been so broadly worded that it clearly would have affected naturists and establishments (like nudist parks or rented facilities) they might choose to use for naturist activities.

BACKGROUND

Wharton County is located southwest of Houston. Predominantly rural, it is located in the path of significant urban development. The county is adjacent to Fort Bend County, which recently became the second fastest growing county in the U.S. Anxious to avoid the uncontrolled proliferation of sexually oriented businesses in the county, Wharton County's commissioners requested the regulation.

Two nudist parks, Natural Horisun, Inc. (NHI) and Acorn Acres, are located in Wharton County. The regulation, as initially proposed, would have defined both to be sexually oriented businesses.

PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing on the proposed regulation was held Monday, December 22, 2003 at the county offices. NHI owner and spokesperson Randall Attaway attended the hearing and addressed the commissioners.

Reading from a position paper prepared specifically for the Wharton County situation by the Naturist Action Committee, Attaway asked the commissioners to "avoid a rush to judgment on this matter that may result in unfairness, hardship and costly litigation."

Attaway also carried a copy of the 2000 NEF-Roper Poll, commissioned by the Naturist Education Foundation, as well as a position paper submitted by the Southwestern Sunbathing Association, a regional affiliate of the American Association for Nude Recreation. All the documents were entered into the official record of the hearing.

A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY

The revision to protect the interests of naturists and nudist parks was accomplished without seeking exemptions for nudist businesses that are chartered or affiliated with national naturist or nudist organizations. Specific exemptions of that sort carry distinct disadvantages NAC seeks to avoid. The regulation is expected to be approved at the meeting of the county commissioners scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2004.

HELP NAC CONTINUE TO HELP NATURISTS!

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