A proposal for a “gentlemen’s club” on Welch Avenue where scantily clad women perform lap dances and stage shows is a subject of concern for many Ames residents.

Dangerous Curves Gentlemen’s Club, 111 5th St., opened April 29 and is proposing an expansion to the lower level of 122 Welch Ave., which was formerly a discount store.

Although the Ames City Council was scheduled to approve a liquor license for the new business in its consent agenda, a lengthy discussion ensued at Tuesday’s council meeting. The item was pulled out of the consent agenda and tabled for further discussion until the Sept. 13 meeting.

“The club doesn’t positively contribute to the neighborhood of the environment that we are trying to foster. Welch Ave. isn’t the appropriate place for such establishment,” said Tom Hill, vice president of Student Affairs. “Welch is something of a main street for families that live in the area and for prospective students and their families, and the university has some concerns.”

Jeremy Boekelman, co-owner of Dangerous Curves and Ames resident, said the club is a bikini-style bar with stage performances.

“You would see what you would see on a beach. Everything is fully covered,” he said.

Councilman Riad Mahayni was concerned with business signs on the street in public view.

Boekelman said if he was allowed to operate on Welch, there wouldn’t be a big sign.

“We would keep the sign small — our capacity is low enough that we wouldn’t have to really advertise,” he said. “Maybe a sticker on the door or a small sign in the window.”

According to city ordinances, contact between the performers and the patrons is not allowed, said Ames City Attorney John Klaus.

“I think [Boekelman] is on thin ice,” Klaus said. “He tripped up when he admitted to lap dancing and has gotten himself in a vulnerable situation. Lap dancing, as I understand it, is for the purpose of producing sexual titillation and is not protected by the First Amendment, so we can establish regulations that separate these establishments from certain areas of the city.”

Another zoning stipulation that could hurt Boekelman’s expansion plans is that any adult entertainment establishment must be 1,000 feet away from any arterial street, church, public meeting place or school. Matt Flynn, director of planning, housing and economic development for the city, said he measured the distance and it is well within 1,000 feet of Lincoln Way.