HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 297 CERTIFICATION
I, Marcia M. Torgerson, City Clerk of the City of Atascadero, hereby certify
that the foregoing is the true and correct original of Ordinance No. 297 adopted
by the Atascadero City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on January 23,
1996 and that it has been duly published pursuant to State Law.
DATED:
Marcia M. Torgerson
City Clerk
City of Atascadero, California
ORDINANCE NO. 297
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA,
PROHIBITING USES IN CONFLICT WITH ZONING PROPOSAL
CONCERNING LOCATION OF ADULT BUSINESSES, AND FURTHER
PROHIBITING LOCATION OF ADULT BUSINESSES WITHIN A
SPECIFIED DISTANCE OF PUBLIC PARKS, CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
AND WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN, PENDING CONSIDERATION OF
PROPOSED ORDINANCES BY THE CITY COUNCIL
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO, STATE OF
CALIFORNIA, HEREBY FINDS AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, on August 16, 1995, the City Council properly adopted Ordinance
No. 293 an urgency ordinance of the City of Atascadero, which ordinance remains
effective through September 30, 1995; and
WHEREAS, on September 19, 1995 through the Deputy City Attorney, the
City Council issued a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the
threat to the public health, safety, or welfare that led to the adoption of this
ordinance; and
WHEREAS, there remains a current and immediate threat to the public health,
safety, or welfare from the secondary effects of inappropriate location of adult
businesses in the City, which would be alleviated by immediate, interim adoption of
the proposed zoning ordinance extending the requirements of Ordinance No. 293 that
adult businesses be dispersed by at least 1000 feet from public parks, churches and
children's schools and be excluded from downtown. In the absence of an interim,
urgency ordinance, approval of additional subdivisions, rezoning, land use permits,
variances, building permits or any other applicable entitlement for use which is
required in order to comply with a zoning ordinance would result in a threat to public
health, safety or welfare, particularly the safety of children in the vicinity of parks.
WHEREAS, the City of Atascadero has gathered and is gathering evidence
regarding appropriate location of adult businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has prepared a proposed zoning ordinance with
findings, based on a staff report, written comments from the public and numerous
studies which have been available for public review in the City Attorney's office,
concerning location of adult businesses; these documents are hereby incorporated by
reference into these findings; and
WHEREAS, The basis for the proposed zoning ordinance is to regulate the
location of adult businesses to avoid potential adverse secondary effects of
inappropriate locations as shown by the evidence gathered, including increased crime,
a "skid row" effect and decreased property values, while providing reasonable alter-
ORDINANCE NO. 297 (Urgency)
Page 4 of 4
The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to file a Notice of Exemption
with the County Clerk in regard to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this
ordinance is declare y-a court o competent jurisdiction in-the form of a final
determination to be void, this City Council finds that said voided part is severable,
and that this City Council would have adopted the remainder of this ordinance
without the severed and voided part, and that the remainder of this ordinance shall
remain in full force and effect.
INTRODUCED, PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the
Atascadero City Council held this 23rd day of January, 1996, by the following roll-
call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Bewley, Carden, Johnson, Luna and Mayor Highland
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADOPTED: January 23, 1996
ATTE GEO GE P.'A46HLAND, Mayor
LE ICE, City derk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
RO . HANLEY, rputy City Attorney
ORDINANCE NO. 297 (Urgency)
Page 2 of 4
native avenues of communication for those wishing to deliver and receive adult
messages; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has received a status report and public comment
on the regulation of adult businesses. Concerned members of the public testified that
location of adult businesses in close proximity to public parks, churches and
children's schools and within downtown would result in adverse secondary impacts.
The City Council was urged to immediately adopt an interim ordinance on an urgency
basis to provide for appropriate location of adult businesses and to protect the health,
safety and welfare of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65858 allows the City Council upon
four-fifths vote to adopt an urgency measure prohibiting any uses which may be in
conflict with a contemplated zoning proposal that the City Council, Planning
Commission or Community Development Department intends to study within a
reasonable time; and
WHEREAS, On January 15, 1996 through the Deputy City Attorney, the City
Council issued a written report describing the measures taken to alleviate the threat
to the public health, safety or welfare that led to the adoption of the ordinance.
WHEREAS, On September 26, 1995 the City Council properly adopted
Ordinance Number 294 as an urgency ordinance of the City of Atascadero, which
ordinance remains effective through January 30, 1996.
WHEREAS, There remains a current and immediate threat to the public health,
safety or welfare from the secondary effects of inappropriate locations of adult
businesses in the City which would be alleviated by immediate, interim adoption of
the proposed zoning ordinance, extending the requirements of Ordinance Number
294 that adult businesses be dispersed by at least 1,000 feet from public parks,
churches and children's schools and be excluded from downtown. In the absence of
an interim, urgency ordinance, approval of additional subdivisions, rezonings, land use
permits, variances, building permits or any other applicable entitlement for use which
is required in order to comply with a zoning ordinance would result in a threat to
public health, safety or welfare, particularly the safety of children in the vicinity of
parks.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO
HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. INTERIM PROHIBITIONS.
(a) During the effective period of this ordinance, no person shall establish
an adult bookstore, adult cabaret, adult hotel or motel, adult motion picture theater,
ORDINANCE NO. 297 (Urgency)
Page 3 of 4
or other adult business, as those terms are defined in the proposed zoning ordinance
relating to adult businesses, except as permitted in the proposed ordinance. This
ordinance is attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and these definitions incorporated herein.
(b) During the effective period of this ordinance, no person shall establish
an adult bookstore, adult cabaret, adult hotel or motel, adult motion picture theater,
or otheradult business, as those terms are defined in the proposed zoning ordinance
relating to adult businesses, within one thousand (1000) feet of a public park, church
or children's school or within the Downtown Master Plan area.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE AND EXPIRATION.
This is an urgency ordinance adopted pursuant to Government Code Section
65858, to be effective immediately upon adoption by four-fifths affirmative vote of
the City Council. This ordinance shall remain in effect up to and including April 30,
1996, and shall expire as of April 30, 1996, or the effective date of the permanent
ordinance, whichever occurs first, unless extended by further action of the City
Council pursuant to Government Code Section 65858.
SECTION 3. WRITTEN REPORT.
At least ten days prior to April 30, 1996, the City Council shall issue a written
report describing the measures taken to alleviate the threat to the public health,
safety or welfare that led to the adoption of this ordinance.
SECTION 4. PUBLICATION.
Within fifteen days of the adoption of this ordinance, the City Clerk shall cause
this ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, published and
circulated in the City.
SECTION 5. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT REVIEW NOT
REQUIRED; FILING OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION BY CLERK
AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED.
This ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental
Quality Act. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the
proposed, interim ordinance will have any significant effect on the environment
because it will prohibit establishment of specified land uses while it is effective. (14
Cal. Code of Regs. §15061(b)(3), 15270.) To the extent that such uses would
otherwise have adverse environmental effects, adoption of the ordinance is a
procedure for protection of the environment. (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §15308.)
EXHIBIT A
DRAFT
Title 9 (Zoning Ordinance) of the Atascadero Municipal Code is amended by the
addition of the following:
9-6.107. Adult Businesses. The purpose of this section is to provide
reasonable, uniform regulations to prevent problems of blight, deterioration, and
other adverse secondary effects associated with the concentration of adult
businesses, while permitting the location of adult businesses in specified locations.
9-6.108 Definitions
9-6.109 Permitted Locations
9-6.110 Exterior Display
9-6.111 Persons Responsible
9-6.108. Definitions.
(a) Adult Bookstore. A building or portion thereof used by a business
devoting more than 25% of the total floor area used for display, sale
or rental to display, sale or rental of books, magazines, other printed
material, photographs, audiotapes, videotapes, films, or other forms of
visual or audio representations which are (1) distinguished by their
emphasis on specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas;
or (2) defined as obscene matter or harmful matter by California Penal
Code Sections 311 or 313, or their respective successor sections. An
adult bookstore is an adult business.
(b) Adult Cabaret. A building of area used for presentation, exhibitions or
other features or entertainment, a substantial portion of the total
presentation time of which is characterized by an emphasis on
specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities, including but
not limited to strippers and topless or bottomless employees, for
observation by customers or patrons. An adult cabaret is an adult
business.
(c) Adult Hotel or Motel. A hotel or motel or similar commercial
establishment offering public accommodations for consideration which
provides patrons with closed circuit television transmissions, films,
motion pictures, videocassettes, slides or other photographic
reproductions, a substantial portion of the total presentation time of
which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified
anatomical areas or specified sexual activities. An adult hotel or motel
is an adult business.
(d) Adult Motion Picture Theater. A building or area, open or enclosed,
regularly used for presentation of motion pictures, slides or similar
audio or visual presentations characterized by an emphasis on matter
depicting, describing, or relating to specified sexual activities or
specified anatomical areas, for observation by customers or patrons.
Use is regular when the specified presentations constitute a
substantial portion of all presentations made or constitute a substantial
part of the theater's revenues. An adult motion picture theater is an
adult business.
(e) Establish. With reference to an adult bookstore, adult motion picture
theater, adult cabaret, or other adult business:
(1) Opening or commencement of operation as a new business.
(2) Conversion of an existing business to an adult business.
(3) Addition of an adult business to an existing business, whether
or not adult, if the addition results in enlarging the place of
business. For purposes of this paragraph, enlargement means
an increase in the size of the building or area in which the
business is conducted by either construction or use of an
adjacent building or any portion thereof, whether located on the
same or an adjacent lot.
(f) Other Adult Business. Any other business or commercial
establishment not otherwise defined herein:
(1) In which the establishment provides entertainment to patrons, a
substantial portion of the total presentation time of which is
characterized by an emphasis on depicting specified sexual
activities or specified anatomical areas; or
(2) Which devotes more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total
area used for display and sale of its stock in trade to items,
instruments, and/or paraphernalia characterized by an emphasis
on depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities.
(g) Specified Anatomical Areas.
(1) Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals,
pubic regions, buttock, and female breasts below a point
immediately above the top of the areola; and
(2) Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if
completely and opaquely covered.
(h) Specified Sexual Activities.
(1) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;
(2) Acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy;
(3) Fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic
region, buttock, or female breast.
9-6.109. Permitted Locations.
(a) Zones. Adult businesses may be established only in the CS
(Commercial Service) and I (Industrial) zones.
(b) Dispersion Requirements.
(1) Dispersion from other uses. No adult business shall be
established within one thousand feet 0 0001 of the following
uses:
a. Children's schools or preschools.
b. Public parks
c. Churches
(2) Dispersion between businesses. No adult business shall be
established within one thousand feet (1000') of any other adult
business whether inside or outside the City.
(3) Measurement of Dispersion. The distances specified in this
section shall be a straight line, measured without regard to
intervening structures, from the nearest point on the lot where
the adult business is to be located to the nearest lot line of the
other adult business or other specified uses.
(c) Prohibition with Downtown. No adult business shall be established
within Downtown Zone 1 (Pedestrian Commercial Zone), Downtown
Zone 2 (Downtown Commercial Zone), Downtown 3 (Restaurant and
Entertainment Zone), or Downtown 4 (Commercial Zone).
9-6.110. Exterior Display.
(a) Performance Standards. No adult business shall be conducted so as to
permit observation of any material depicting, describing or relating to
specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas from any
public property or way outside the building or area of the business.
This provision shall apply to any display, decoration, sign, show
window, or other opening.
(b) Other Standards. Adult businesses shall comply with other
development, performance, design, and signage requirements of the
CS and I zone in which they are located.
9-6.1 1 1 . Persons Responsible. The owners, operators and managers of
premises which constitute an adult business under this section are responsible for
compliance with this section.