NEWPORT BEACH : Massage Parlor Proposal Rejected

The Planning Commission this week voted not to recommend a proposed revision of the ordinance to regulate massage parlors.

It argued that the proposal would unfairly punish legal operators and have little effect on the prostitution rings often associated with illegally run shops.

The proposed revision calls for restricting where shops can operate and limits the number of shops in the city. Although rejected by the Planning Commission, it still will go to the City Council for consideration.

“I have a terribly uncomfortable feeling that the very basis (of) . . . this action is incorrect. We have no evidence whatsoever that if it’s harder to work here or if we close down shops that prostitution will go down,” said Commissioner Gary W. Pomeroy. “They’re being subjected to very a restrictive ordinance and that’s not right. That’s not good government and that’s not good policy.”

About a dozen massage operators stayed until the wee hours of the morning Friday to plead their case. The commission then voted 5 to 1 against the revision proposal, with one commissioner absent.

Currently, the city, which has more massage parlors than any other city in the county, has a moratorium on the establishment of new massage parlors. Police investigations revealed that about 50% of the shops operating in Newport Beach are fronts for illegal sexual encounters.

The proposed revision calls for limiting the number of operators in the city by restricting them to a limited area and dismantling shops that do not comply with the new law. Massage parlors would be prohibited from operating within 500 feet of other such shops, in addition to schools, churches and the Civic Center.

Furthermore, independent shops would be prohibited in certain areas, such as those zoned for light commercial or residential use, and would be restricted to commercial areas similar to those where adult entertainment facilities are allowed.

About 14 of the 31 existing independent operators would be affected by the change, which could force them to shut down or relocate. A number of those operators were among those present at City Hall on Thursday to oppose the plan.

“I’m real concerned that we’re not getting level play here,” said John V. Black, a massage practitioner in the city. “I think it’s absurd to outlaw all massage establishments because of a few bad apples.”

Sherry Lynch, president of the California Federation of Massage, also criticized the proposed revision of the ordinance on massage parlors.

“You have everything you need to rid of prostitution right here in the original ordinance,” Lynch said.