Westport Town Meeting voters mustered the two-thirds majority needed to create an adult entertainment zone on Route 6, after first removing six lots considered prime spots for future commercial development. The article passed with 108 votes "for" and 53 "against." The lots that were removed from the zone are near the intersection with Sanford Road.

Business was completed on the second night of the annual Town Meeting with 228 residents in attendance. That was 100 fewer people than the 328 who attended the first night.

The strip club discussion began after 9 p.m. and ended close to 10:30 p.m. Much of the debate revolved over whether to eliminate two lots to the east of Route 88.

Those lots, 17 and 17A, are where Deutche Donn of Fairhaven wants to build a strip club. Deutche Donn is suing the Appeals Board for denying a permit.

Those who favored removing those lots said they are mostly filled wetlands that could not be built on. Gerald Coutinho of the Appeals Board said, however, that an adult bookstore could go there.

Selectman Robert Rebello said a lot of that area is wetlands and that removing those two lots, which could handle some type of establishment, could make the strip club zone more difficult to defend in court.

The attempt to remove the lots involved in the litigation was defeated. That left a vote on whether to accept the full strip club zone as presented.

Although residents were asked to vote with their heads and not their hearts, several spoke out emotionally anyway.

One man said they had just rejected a bylaw that would have kept sex offenders away from schools, playgrounds and other places where children gather.

"We just passed over something that would have kept perverts away from our kids," he said, identifying himself as a Boy Scout leader. "Now we're going to do something to invite them," he said of the clientele attracted to strip clubs.

After a similar adult entertainment zone was defeated at the 2007 annual Town Meeting, selectmen were criticized for not speaking either for or against it. This year, several of them did argue the merits of allowing one.

Selectman Gary Mauk said, "I don't think anyone's in favor of the zone but you need to think about it with a clear head and not be emotional."

Mr. Mauk urged voters to respect the hard work town officials put into designing a zone that would stand up in court but also do the least harm to the town.

"They have the town's best interests at heart and they should be supported," Mr. Mauk said.

Duncan Albert, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said that under existing zoning, adult entertainment could go anywhere in the town's commercial district. "That's pretty scary. That's Central Village and Route 177," Mr. Albert said.

John Montano, chairman of the Planning Board, said provisions of the bylaw allow the Appeals Board to develop setbacks from the road and other restrictions. Under the town's site plan regulations, buildings could be required to have New England style cedar shingles, Mr. Montano said.

Town Counsel Jonathan Silverstein said the new bylaw does not include setbacks from churches, schools and residences like the old one did.

One of the more dramatic moments occurred when someone called the question while Mike Andras Sr. was waiting to speak. A World War II veteran of several major battles, Mr. Andras said he should be allowed to speak out against allowing strip clubs.
The audience voted overwhelming to end debate , however.

(See related stories for decisions on other Town Meeting warrant articles.)

By Peggy Aulisio

paulisio@eastbaynewspapers.com