A bill passed by the Anne Arundel County Council this week has helped Brooklyn Park residents win a battle they've waged against an after-hours teen nightclub.

The bill prohibits these types of establishments from locating within 1,000 feet of a school or church. The club was to have opened a block from Park Elementary School on 11th Avenue.

"The school was built three years ago, and we are concerned about the amount of graffiti, vandalism and other activities that would detract from our building and library," said Principal Diane Lenzi.

Mark Avery, a native of the working-class neighborhood, wanted to open an alcohol-free dance spot called Club Lightnin'. He also owns six bail bonds businesses in the Baltimore area.

Avery's plan was to put Club Lightnin' in a 14,000-square-foot space beneath Ollie's Bargain Outlet in a shopping center at 11th Avenue and Ritchie Highway. Between 8 p.m. and midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, the club would have been open to young adults. After midnight, only customers age 21 and older would have been admitted.