Oxnard Gives Initial OK to Adult Store Restrictions : Pornography: A national group wrote the measure that would largely confine sexually oriented shops to the city’s industrial east side.

The Oxnard Planning Commission gave tentative approval Wednesday to a measure written by a national anti-pornography group that would largely restrict sexually oriented businesses to the city’s industrial east side.

The commission will formally vote July 15 on the ordinance, which would then go to the City Council for consideration. An interim ordinance barring adult businesses from the well-traveled or prominent entryways to the city is due to expire Sept. 29.

Under terms approved by the commission, Oxnard’s two existing adult bookstores would have a minimum of one year to move to the new zone or close. If the owners can prove a financial hardship, they could receive up to two more years to move, the commission decided.

Representatives of Oxnard Book & Video on Vineyard Avenue and Mr. K’s bookstore on Hueneme Road and their landlords have warned that they may sue the city if the businesses are forced to close.

Before giving its unanimous consent to the measure, the commission decided to reduce by a third the size of the area where a council-appointed citizens committee recommended that sexually oriented businesses can operate.

Saying they were concerned about the area’s proximity to the low-income La Colonia neighborhood, the commissioners deleted all areas west of Rice Road, except for a small parcel near Hueneme and Edison roads in south Oxnard.

“If the purpose of the ordinance is to reduce the number of adult businesses in Oxnard, reducing the size of the area will make the ordinance stronger,” Commissioner Edward Castillo said.

As approved by the commission, the measure would prohibit sexually oriented businesses--including adult bookstores, nude model studios and adult theaters--from operating within 1,000 feet of any church, school, youth facility, park, public building or residential area. The businesses would be required to be separated from each other by 750 feet.

The same restrictions would apply to adult motels--those that offer adult videos and rent rooms by the hour. But the motels would be allowed to operate in commercial and business research areas.

The adult-use ordinance was submitted to the commission by the council-appointed Adult Uses Ad Hoc Committee, a group formed mainly of residents who actively opposed the 1991 opening of an adult bookstore on Vineyard Avenue.

Opponents were unable to prevent the opening of Oxnard Book & Video, partly because the city’s existing ordinance regulating adult businesses does not prohibit such businesses near residences.

The committee was assisted by the Virginia-based National Law Center for Children and Families, which is an affiliate of the National Coalition Against Pornography, an alliance of 70 religious and private organizations. Attorneys for the National Law Center drafted the Oxnard ordinance.

Restrictions on the sexually oriented businesses are justified because of the adverse secondary effects--such as crime and a decrease in property values--associated with adult businesses, said Janet LaRue, the National Law Center’s senior counsel.

The National Law Center furnished studies from other cities that documented a link between the presence of adult businesses and higher crime rates. No evidence of higher crime near Oxnard’s two adult bookstores was submitted.

In often-emotional testimony Tuesday night, the measure’s backers voiced their disgust with pornography and its effects. “I’m just doggoned angry at the city of Oxnard to allow this kind of trash in my community,” Naomi Knox said.

Apart from representatives of Oxnard’s two adult bookstores, only one of the 30 speakers questioned the need for the ordinance.

“It’s not your job to legislate against sin,” said Juan Soria, who said he opposed pornography but criticized the absence of Latinos on the citizens committee. “We go to church for that kind of instruction and advice.”

In approving the ordinance, the commissioners dropped several provisions at the urging of Assistant City Atty. Paula Kimbrell, who warned that making the measure too tough would make it harder to defend in court.

But the commission also imposed mandatory 2 to 6 a.m. closing hours and employee licensing requirements that Kimbrell opposed.

Some of the ad hoc committee members rejoiced at the commission’s decision.

“I am ecstatic,” said committee member Darcy Taylor, who was a leader of neighborhood opposition to Oxnard Book & Video. “The overall message is we are concerned as a city with the adult industry and the harm it represents to the city.”