COSTA MESA : City May Pass Rules on Adult Businesses

Trying to prevent a “skid row,” the City Council tonight will consider passing an emergency ordinance to control adult bookstores, topless bars and other adult-oriented businesses.

“We’ve been seeing problems created in other cities, and there’s been applications (for adult businesses) in Newport Beach,” Councilman Joe Erickson said. “We just feel that can lead to a skid-row type of effect, and we’re not going to let that happen here.”

Planning Manager Perry Valantine said his office has gotten recent inquiries about opening topless bars, adult video stores and sex-toy stores. He said the current adult entertainment ordinance does not give the city enough control.

Adult video stores are not mentioned in the ordinance, perhaps because they were not as common when the original law was passed in 1981, Valantine said.

The interim ordinance would be in effect only until the council passes a permanent one. City Atty. Thomas A. Kathe said he expects to deliver a finished ordinance March 14, but it will have to be reviewed and discussed during public hearings before the Planning Commission and the council.

Under the temporary ordinance, adult businesses would have to be at least 500 feet from residences and 1,000 feet from other adult businesses, parks, schools and churches. Adult businesses would need to be licensed by the police chief after a background check.

The temporary ordinance would apply to businesses that use more than a quarter of their floor area to display adult-oriented items.

The council tonight will also consider whether to grant permits to two massage businesses that opened without receiving approval. At Planning Commission hearings, residents have argued that the businesses provide adult entertainment and should not be allowed to stay close to residences.

Attorney Robert J. Davis, who represents both Oriental Therapy East at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive and Mesa Acupressure at 2845 Mesa Verde Drive, has said the businesses provide physical therapy for people suffering from injuries or stress.

But the Police Department opposes permits for the businesses, a fact Erickson said he will consider. “If I feel it’s unhealthy for the community, I could not support their application,” he said.