A recent state District Court ruling dealt a major blow to hopes of keeping strip clubs from Lake Highlands. The decision could pave the way for The Gold Club at PT’s Plaza to stay in business on Plano Road for the foreseeable future.

Lawyers for strip clubs such as PT’s were set to appeal a state law preventing sexually oriented businesses from selling alcohol in dry communities. Days before the planned March 30th hearing in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, a separate decision involving Silver City Cabaret in Dallas overturned the law and allows Silver City and PT’s to continue serving alcohol.

The law, authored by former State Representative Bill Keffer and State Senator John Carona, was passed in 2004 and had withstood recent challenges by lawyers for adult establishments. The New Orleans hearings were seen by many as a last-ditch effort by the clubs to override the law and return to business as usual. Instead, the Silver City ruling made that appeal unnecessary.

Silver City’s liquor license was not renewed recently by the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission because of the club’s location in a dry area along Stemmons Freeway. The club filed suit in state District Court, arguing that the law passed by Keffer and Carona falls under the Texas Constitution’s prohibition of bills dealing with more than one subject – often referenced as the “single subject” rule. The court agreed with lawyers for the club and struck down the law as unconstitutional.

Keffer was surprised by the decision and claims his and Carona's is no different than many bills routinely enacted into law. He says the ruling exposes communities such as Lake Highlands to the explosive combination of strip clubs and alcohol.

“This new development only points out the lengths to which the strip club industry will go to beat down family-friendly communities like Lake Highlands to get their way,” Keffer said.

PT's moved from its location at Northwest Highway and Lawther Road to open its club on Plano Road in early 2004. That developement spurred strong opposition from many in Lake Highlands.

Texas Solicitor General James Ho, who was already handling the PT’s case, will now become involved with the Silver City case. Lawyers for the state are appealing the Silver City decision while the PT’s case will remain on hold. Keffer speculates several months may pass before any movement in the issue.

“Our response in Lake Highlands can only be to continue to outlast them, until it’s our values and priorities that prevail,” Keffer said.