PORT ANGELES — Coffee stands in which the baristas are bikini-clad may get special regulation in unincorporated Clallam County.
First-year Community Development Director Mary Ellen Winborn asked commissioners Monday to consider “appropriate local regulations and control” of the drive-through coffee stands at which scantily clad baristas serve up customers’ favorite espresso drinks.
Such activities are popular in the Puget Sound region as a marketing draw.
County planners have begun a study of potential zoning regulations for bikini-barista stands in parallel with sexually oriented businesses and adult-entertainment shops.
There are no bikini baristas in Clallam County, and sexually oriented and adult-entertainment businesses are not a common land use, Winborn said in a memo to the board.
Citizen’s inquiry
The study was prompted by a citizen who recently inquired about placing a bikini-barista stand in a commercial zone east of Port Angeles, Planning Manager Steve Gray said.
No formal application had been submitted.
“We’re really in the early stages of looking at that [zoning] in terms of where we might go,” Gray said in an interview.
Winborn said Clallam County has no regulations for “bikini-barista-type businesses and other similar limited-apparel businesses providing retail services to the general public in a semi-nude state of dress.”
Commissioners directed Winborn to work with the Planning Commission and bring back a formal recommendation.
“It’s your authority,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said.
“Bring it forward, and I’d be happy to consider it,” Commissioner Jim McEntire said.
Hot-button topic
Bikini baristas have sparked controversy in other parts of the state.
In Everett, an accused madam allegedly made millions prostituting bikini baristas, some of whom allegedly doffed their bikini tops.
“Regulations range from prohibiting certain types of sexually oriented businesses, restricting to certain locations, licensing and specific development regulations,” Winborn said.
“For example, Kitsap County has adopted both adult-entertainment and limited-apparel business facilities and uses. The latter regulates the location of bikini-barista-type coffee/espresso stands by defining ‘partial nudity,’ regulating location and also providing other additional development standards to address specific concerns and issues related to such facilities.”
Winborn offered a solution:
Require coffee stands that meet the definition of partial nudity to post a highly visible warning sign that says something like “This Premise is Not Family Oriented” or “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content Ahead.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
