The Covington City Council has approved a special use petition to open a comedy club on Washington Street, with the condition that the owner, Jimmy Clark, a candidate for District 3 Commissioner, reapply for his permit again in two years.
The council voted unanimously to approve Clark's SUP at their Monday night meeting.
The council had previously voted to send the petition back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration in February after Clark's original application met with some objections by Planning and Zoning Director Michelle Stiebling.
In addition to reapplying for an SUP in two years, the city council approved several other conditions to the permit including the requirement that one parking space be provided for every two customers, the use of valet parking and the prohibition of outdoor speakers and spotlights.
On-street parking for the comedy club, to be located at 3192 Washington Street, is also prohibited on Webster and Carroll Streets.
The number of customers the comedy club can hold will be determined by the number of parking spots provided.
Clark and his business partner, Earnest Sims, originally applied for a permit for 215 people for the club.
The comedy club's restaurant will be open Monday through Thursday and will serve alcohol.
Comedy performances will take place Friday through Sunday.
In an earlier interview, Clark, who was not in attendance at Monday's meeting, said it was his intention for the club to be open for business this summer. Clark said he wants to see national acts perform at the club as well as local talent.
In other city council news:
The city council approved a construction and demolition transfer station for East Georgia Roll on the south side of Bob Williams Parkway.
The transfer station will be built on an 11.6-acre undeveloped site on a preexisting industrial park.
Onsite wetlands are to be preserved in a land trust.
All solid waste is to be hauled to the site, processed and removed within two business days.
The council approved the reading of a special Earth Day Proclamation, submitted by the Newton Climate Action Coalition, to hearty applause from attendees.
Before reading the proclamation Mayor Kim Carter made a symbolic gesture in asking that Styrofoam cups be banned from council meetings in the future and replaced with plastic cups.
"It is the responsibility of each of us to safeguard the environment, by recognizing that all human life depends upon the earth and upon one another for our mutual existence, well-being and development," read part of the proclamation.
Carter said it is her intention to look into future initiatives with the Climate Coalition to lower the city's carbon footprint.
