OXNARD : Planners Back Curbs on Adult Businesses

The Oxnard Planning Commission has approved an ordinance that would restrict sexually oriented businesses to an industrial area in northeast Oxnard and force the city’s two adult bookstores to move or close.

Written by a national anti-pornography group and submitted by a council-appointed citizens committee, the stringent measure was approved unanimously by the commission Thursday.

The ordinance will next be considered by the City Council. An interim ordinance barring adult businesses from the city’s prominent entryways is due to expire Sept. 29.

Representatives of Oxnard Book & Video on Vineyard Avenue and Mr. K’s bookstore on Hueneme Road have told the city they will sue if the businesses are forced to close. On Thursday, the commission received letters opposing the ordinance from businesses in the 825-acre area east of Rice Avenue that would be designated for adult businesses under the new ordinance.

The commissioners applauded the work of the adult uses ad hoc committee, most of whose members had opposed the city’s approval of Oxnard Book & Video on Vineyard Avenue.

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, but the motels would be allowed to operate in business research areas.