FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Adult-Business Regulations Addressed Reluctantly

More than 100 residents and business owners delivered a message this week to city planners: No sexually oriented businesses.

And officials had a response: There’s nothing we can do about it.

Speakers at a Planning Commission meeting objected to a proposed ordinance aimed at regulating the location of adult entertainment businesses, saying they want no such businesses anywhere in the city.

“We’re not going to put up with this . . . this is a family community,” said resident Robert Rusoff. “We will not tolerate legislative immorality.”

But city officials say they have no choice but to allow businesses such as nude dancing and adult bookstores because they are protected under the 1st Amendment. Cities can only regulate where these types of business are located, said City Atty. Alan R. Burns.

“None of us want them anymore than you do,” said Planning Commission Chairwoman Nancy Cooper.

The city has no adult businesses and no applications are pending. But to study the issue, the City Council enacted a two-year moratorium on adult businesses, which expires in February.

Burns said if the city does not have an ordinance to regulate adult businesses in place by February, city officials “won’t have any controls on where they can locate within commercial districts.”

He added that the city must “allow a reasonable amount of space” within the city for these types of businesses.

Planners said they are faced with the issue of recommending whether zoning for adult businesses should be dispersed throughout the community or concentrated in one area.

One proposal is to zone an industrial area in the northeast section of the city near Slater Avenue and Newhope Street for these businesses.

But business owners there voiced strong opposition.

“We are appalled . . . We can’t believe this would take place so close to businesses where people are trying to make a living,” said Lois McKoon, owner of MPS Photo Lab. “I think it’s wrong to place [adult businesses] in one spot. They should disperse them over the entire community so everyone can fight against them.”

Commissioners will hold another public hearing on the issue on Oct. 25. The council will hear the matter on Nov. 21.