BREA : Adult Entertainment Law Tentatively OKd

The City Council has tentatively approved an ordinance designating certain areas in the city where bookstores, cabarets, movie theaters and other establishments showing adult-oriented entertainment may be allowed.

With the unanimous vote last week, the council moved closer to putting in place a permanent ordinance; a temporary one was adopted in 1992 and extended twice, each time for six months.

The new measure is expected to be adopted July 6, officials said. The ordinance will give the city greater flexibility to control adult-oriented businesses while complying with First Amendment guarantees of freedom of expression, officials said.

Under the ordinance, adult-oriented businesses would only be allowed in areas zoned as manufacturing, light industrial and general industrial. In addition, the businesses must be 1,000 feet away from a residential zone, church, school, park, hospital or any other public facility. The ordinance also requires that adult-oriented businesses cannot be within 1,000 feet of each other.

Operators will be required to secure a permit before opening their businesses. Staff will be required to review the background of all applicants and check the exact nature of the business.