Developer Reduces Plan for Adult Entertainment : Business: Despite revisions, Simi Valley group vows to block complex that would include nude dancing.

The developer of a proposed adult entertainment center has scaled down his plans for the Simi Valley site, but opponents vowed this week to continue their protests.

The new proposal for the complex, submitted to city officials last week, includes a juice bar and nude dancing, said Roger Diamond, attorney for developer Philip Young. No alcohol would be served, he said.

The developer cut plans for the Los Angeles Avenue establishment from two stories to one.

“They’re eliminating the upstairs facility,” Diamond said. “Going upstairs was too complicated and too expensive due to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The building would have to be completely renovated.”

Installing an elevator to accommodate the physically disabled and meeting building code requirements for the second floor would be cost-prohibitive, Diamond said.

The first floor will be accessible to everyone, including the physically disabled, he said.

Originally, the plan called for an upstairs adult bookstore, boutique and video shop.

The special-use application is being reviewed by Simi Valley planning officials. No hearing has been scheduled.

Young has a lawsuit pending against the city of Simi Valley, alleging it violated his rights when it blocked his plans to build a nude dance club in 1993.

He had received zoning clearance for an 11,000-square-foot club at 999 E. Los Angeles Ave., but city officials rescinded the clearance a few weeks later. Then, Simi Valley officials slapped a moratorium on adult businesses that prevented Young from pursuing his plans.

The city’s zoning ordinance, which was passed right after Young’s clearance was pulled, prohibits sexually oriented bookstores, movie theaters, nightclubs and related businesses from opening near a residential area, a youth-oriented business, a school, a park or a place of worship.

Diamond, however, said it is illegal to prevent adult businesses under the guise of a zoning ordinance that covers virtually the entire city.

Young’s lawsuit contends that Simi Valley officials violated his rights by “zoning adult entertainment out of existence,” Diamond said. “The irony is if his current proposal is approved, the city will be proving his lawsuit to be wrong.”

Diamond said that recent protests by the group, Simi Citizens R Against Pornography, did not affect Young’s decision to reduce the size of his adult entertainment center.

About 250 people attended a SCRAP protest Aug. 1 at 585 Los Angeles Ave., the building proposed for the complex.

Steve Frank, organizer of the opposition group, said SCRAP has gathered 4,400 signatures against having pornography in Simi Valley.

“Our opposition is to pornography in general,” said Frank, a candidate for the state’s 38th Assembly District seat. “It is violent against women and brings more crime.”

Another demonstration will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at Mayfair Park in Simi Valley, Frank said.