Those planning to dance soon at a new downtown Palace dance club might need to look for another place to kick up their heels.
The City Council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to reconsider its approval two weeks ago of an ordinance amendment that would make it easier for dance clubs to locate in the central business district. Tuesday's action means the ordinance change will not become law. Council members will debate the issue again in two weeks.As proposed, the change would make it easier for dance clubs to locate in business districts where homes are nearby. The ordinance amendment was recommended unanimously by the Provo Planning Commission. The revised ordinance would allow the Palace dance club to operate out of a building at 250 N. 100 West, across the street from Sears and Smith's Food and Drug.
Most neighboring residents and businesses say the club's proposed location doesn't have adequate parking and is too close to homes. They say club patrons will create traffic, parking and crime problems in the area.
Despite the protests, however, the council approved the amended ordinance two weeks ago by a 4-3 vote. At least one councilman who voted for the changed ordinance is now having second thoughts. Councilman Mark Hathaway said he is not sure he made the right decision and wants more debate.
"I still am not ready to go one way or the other on this," he said.
Councilwoman Shari Holweg, who voted with Councilman David Rail not to rehear the issue, said reconsidering the ordinance would be a waste of time. She said the issue was debated extensively and there are no new issues.
"I don't think it's proper to take a vote and then have buyer's remorse," she said.
But Councilman Greg Hudnall pointed out that, in the past, Holweg has said issues need to be thoroughly discussed to ensure proper legislation is passed.
Councilman Karl Thalman said council members would revisit the ordinance regardless because Mayor Stewart would veto it if they didn't reconsider it on their own.
For more than a decade, the Palace operated out of a building on 900 East as a nighttime gathering place for Brigham Young University students. Started as the Star Palace discotheque in 1978, the club struggled when the disco era faded.
Bryan Murdoch took over the club in 1982 and revived it with high school, western, ladies and Latin nights and live bands. The club closed in December when the building was purchased by Western Direct Marketing for a telemarketing center.
Murdoch has been searching for a location since and says the building on 100 West is the only place he's found. Tuesday's vote by the City Council means he'll have to wait at least two more weeks before he knows whether his dance club has a new home or not.