ADAMS TWP — A proposed pole- and lap-dancing studio that has become a controversial subject in this township already exists in neighboring Cranberry Township with the municipality's blessing.

Stephanie Babines of Cranberry Township recently was denied an occupancy permit by Adams Township code enforcement officer Gary Peaco for a new dance studio she planned to open. He said the grounds for the rejection, based on township ordinance, was that the fitness classes constituted a sexually oriented business.

However, in Cranberry, the studio there is so low-key that the township's community development office didn't even know it existed.

Ron Henshaw, director of that office, said he only found out about the classes after seeing a newspaper advertisement.

"We researched to see if we should take action against her, but we determined (the classes) did not violate our ordinance," said Henshaw. "We considered pole dancing another dance type and as long as it didn't violate our sex-oriented business ordinance, we didn't have a problem with it."

Babines, through the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a federal lawsuit in late August against Adams Township claiming her First Amendment rights to free expression are being violated. Babines claims the pole-dance, lap-dance and striptease classes do not violate township ordinances because they are conducted fully clothed and only in the presence of women.

ACLU attorney Sara Rose, who represents Babines, said her client does not plan to operate a strip club or to sell pornography, which would violate township ordinances.

"All she wants to do is teach exercise classes where the participants learn dance moves," said Rose. "We don't think that qualifies as an adult business under the township zoning code. She has First Amendment rights, and the township is interfering with those rights."

Rose said Adams Township officials have indicated they are willing to negotiate with Babines after Rose sent them a list of conditions under which the township might grant the occupancy permit. She could not elaborate on those conditions.

Township officials said Monday night they cannot comment on the situation because it is in litigation.

Adams solicitor Charles Flach also would not comment on the case.

"Because of the sensitive nature of the ACLU suit, we can't discuss it," Flach said.

Flach did confirm that zoning officers have the authority to deny an occupancy permit without supervisors' approval. He said the township has not yet informed him if he or another attorney would represent the township in the case.

A handful of area residents randomly contacted on Monday seemed to agree with Peaco regarding the exercise form, collectively named "Oh My You're Gorgeous" by Babines, who is a registered pole-dance instructor.

"It's disgusting," said Adams resident Eileen Scheps. "Teaching lap dance? What do you think that means?"

Sally Kline, also of Adams Township, agreed.

"I'm not real fond if it," said Kline. "Mars is a very nice, quiet, small community. I think it's a little risqué."

The lawsuit names the township, Peaco and the zoning hearing board as defendants in the case. The letter of denial from Peaco, sent after Babines and others testified at a July zoning hearing board meeting, called the exercise form "provocative" and full of "sexual innuendo."

Babines wants to open the studio in a former children's clothing store along Route 228. Rose said she had invested about $10,000 in the venture before receiving the township's denial.