Judge clears the way for strip club near Safeco Field

When is that vote for SABR-vention 2011?

A King County Superior Court judge this morning cleared the way for a strip club to open within a home run’s distance of Safeco Field, rejecting arguments by the Seattle Mariners that the City of Seattle improperly issued a business permit to the club’s operators.

Judge John Erlick, who earlier was presented arguments by the parties, delivered his ruling from the bench and issued an 11-page written opinion.

Erlick said his ruling was not based on the desirability of strip clubs, which had previously been dealt with by a federal court, or the advisability of where to locate such businesses, which is the role of the Seattle City Council.

His ruling, he said, was based on the city’s application of its land-use rules.

The Mariners have vehemently objected to the club, conducting a yearlong battle with the city over the propriety of allowing nude female dancing to be featured near the stadium, particularly where millions of children have attended events since its opening in 1999.