HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 298 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. 298 adopted
by the Atascadero City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on March 12,
1996 and that it has been duly published pursuant to State Law.
DATED: J �2 1 'I WA
Marcia M. Torgerson
City Clerk
City of Atascadero, California
ORDINANCE NO. 298
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO
ESTABLISHING THE ATASCADERO SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESS ORDINANCE BY DISPERSING
SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES AND LIMITING
THEM TO SPECIFIED ZONING DISTRICTS; PROVIDING
FOR LICENSING AND REGULATION OF SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES;
ANDPROVIDING ADDITIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
REGULATIONS FOR SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
WHEREAS, sexually oriented businesses in the incorporated area of the City
of Atascadero require special supervision from public safety and health agencies of
the County in order to protect and preserve the health, safety and welfare of the
patrons of such businesses as well as citizens of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council and staff have conducted an extensive review
of land use studies concerning the secondary effects of sexually oriented
businesses in other cities including, but not Limited to, Garden Grove, California
(1991); Phoenix, Arizona (1986); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1980); Houston, Texas
(1983); Indianapolis, Indiana (1984); Amarillo, Texas (1977); City of Los Angeles,
California (1977); Cleveland, Ohio (1977); Austin, Texas (1986); Seattle,
Washington (1989); Oklahoma City (1986); Beaumont, Texas ( 1982);
Pleasanton, California (1995) and Whittier, California (1978); have conducted its
own meetings involving real estate appraisers, commercial businesses, residential
owners, and parents in Atascadero ; and
WHEREAS, from review of other cities' studies and their own contacts with
and testimony from its citizens there is convincing documented evidence that
sexually oriented businesses, because of their very nature, have a deleterious
effect on both existing businesses around them and the surrounding residential
areas adjacent to them, causing among other adverse secondary effects, increased
crime and downgrading of property values; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that sexually oriented businesses, due to their
nature, have serious objectionable operational characteristics, particularly when
they are operating in close proximity to each other, thereby contributing to crime,
lower property values, urban blight and downgrading of the quality of life in the
adjacent area; and
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Page 2
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that sexually oriented businesses
commonly involve or contribute to unlawful sexual activities including prostitution,
sexual liaison of casual nature; and
WHEREAS, increased crime and unhealthful conduct tend to accompany,
concentrate around and be aggravated by sexually oriented businesses including
but not limited to prostitution, pandering, exposing minors to harmful materials,
possession and distribution of obscene materials and child pornography,
possession and sale of controlled substances and violent crimes against persons
and property; and
WHEREAS, concern over sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, is a
legitimate health concern of the City which demands reasonable regulations of
sexually oriented business in order to protect the health and well being of the
citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has considered in part, each of the following
matters: (a) areas within close walking distance of single and multiple family
dwellings should be free of sexually oriented business uses: (b) areas where
children could be expected to walk, patronize, or frequent to be free of sexually
oriented business uses; (c) sexually oriented business uses should be located in
areas of the City which are not in close proximity to residential uses, churches,
parks, or other public facilities and schools; (d) the image of the City of
Atascadero as a pleasant attractive place to reside will be adversely affected by
the presence of sexually oriented business uses in close proximity to residential
land uses, churches, parks and other public facilities, and schools; (e) sexually
oriented business land use should be regulated by zoning to separate it from other
dissimilar uses just as any other land use should be separated from uses with
characteristics different from itself; (f) residents of the City of Atascadero and
persons who are non-residents but use the City for shopping and other commercial
needs will move from the community or shop elsewhere if sexually oriented
businesses land uses are allowed to locate in close proximity to residential uses,
churches, parks, and other public facilities, and schools; (g) merchants in the
commercial area of the City are concerned about the adverse impact and the
character and quality of the City in the event that sexually oriented business land
uses are located within close proximity to residential uses, churches, parks, and
other public facilities, and schools, and that such locations will reduce retail trade
to commercial uses in the vicinity, thus reducing property values and tax revenues
to the City; and that such adverse affect on property values and business would
cause the loss to some commercial districts within the City leading to further
deterioration of the commercial quality of the City, and (h) no evidence has been
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presented to show that location of sexually oriented businesses within the City will
improve the commercial viability or quality of life of the community; and
WHEREAS, zoning, licensing and other police power regulations are
legitimate reasonable means of accountability to insure the operator of sexually
oriented businesses comply with reasonable regulations and are located in places
which minimize the adverse secondary effects which naturally accompany the
operations; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the possible harmful effects on children and
minors exposed to the effects of such businesses and the deterioration of respect
for family values, and the avoidance of such businesses which necessitate children
walking through or visiting in the immediate neighborhood of such businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that there would be a deterioration in the
quality of businesses which chose to operate in and around such sexually oriented
businesses; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to minimize and control these adverse
secondary effects and thereby protect the health, safety and welfare of the
citizens; protect the citizens from increased crime; preserve the quality of life;
preserve the property values and the character of surrounding neighborhoods and
businesses, deter the spread of urban blight and protect against the threat to
health from the spread of communicable and social diseases; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the exceptions, where sexually
oriented businesses are permitted to be established without regard to distance
regulations, are either inward looking configurations, or those isolated from direct
view from public streets, parks, schools, boys' clubs, girls' clubs, or similar youth
organizations, public buildings, religious institutions or residential districts or uses.
This configuration reduces the adverse secondary effects associated with sexually
oriented businesses by segregating such businesses away from the
aforementioned sensitive uses, and placing them in a location where they do not
effect the public health, safety, and moral climate of the community as a whole. It
decreases the problems of harassment of neighborhood adults and children,
littering of sexually explicit reading material and paraphernalia, loitering, and visual
blight. In addition, this promotes the City's interests by shifting part of the
regulatory burden to the private sector. A shopping center or resort complex has
its own signage, paint and landscaping restrictions, as well as hours of operation,
parking, and security. The City is relieved from some of the regulatory burden
while protecting the City's commercial tax base; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the decisions of the United
States Supreme Court regarding local regulation of sexually oriented businesses,
including but not limited to Young v. American Mini-Theaters, Inc., 427 U.S. 50
(1976) reh. denied 429 U.S. 873; Renton v. Playtime Theaters, 475 U.S. 41
(1986) reh. denied 475 U.S. 1132; FW/PBS Inc. v. Dallas, 493 U.S. 215 (1990);
and Barnes v. Glen Theater, 501 U.S. 560 (1991); and City of National City v.
Wiener, et al. , 3 Cal.4th 832 (1993). Toganga Press, Inc. et al. v. City of Los
Angeles, 939 F. 2d 1524 (1993); and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that locational criteria alone do
not adequately protect health, safety and general welfare of the people of
Atascadero and thus certain requirements with respect to the ownership and
operation of sexually oriented businesses is in the public interest.
WHEREAS, the City Council consistent with sale and consumption of
alcohol and outside advertising limitations further finds that restricted hours of
operation will further prevent the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented
business;
WHEREAS, it is not the intent of this ordinance to suppress any speech
activities protected by the First Amendment, but to enact a content neutral
ordinance which addresses the adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented
businesses; the City's interest in regulation of sexually oriented business
establishments is unrelated to the suppressing of free expression.
WHEREAS, experience in other cities indicates that a permitted
concentration of adult entertainment establishments and their proliferation
throughout the community would be inconsistent with the community goals of the
City's General Plan.
WHEREAS, the adoption of an adult entertainment ordinance will aid in
preserving the quality of the community that permits Atascadero to continue as a
"colony" of fine homes with a quality business environment.
WHEREAS, the image and vitality of the City of Atascadero as a pleasant
and attractive place to reside and do business will be adversely affected by the
presence of sexually oriented land uses in close proximity to residential land uses,
churches, parks and other public facilities, schools, and certain commercial zones.
WHEREAS, regulation of sexually oriented business land uses should be
developed to prevent deterioration and/or degradation of the community before the
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problem exists, rather than in response to an existing problem.
WHEREAS, no evidence has been presented to show that location of
sexually oriented business land uses within the City will improve the commercial
viability of the community.
WHEREAS, a reasonable regulation of the location of sexually oriented land
uses will provide for the protection of the image of the community and its property
values, and protect the residents of the community from the adverse effects of
such sexually oriented land uses, while providing to those who desire to patronize
such businesses, an opportunity in areas within the City which are appropriate for
location of such land uses.
NOW THEREFORE, The City Council of the City of Atascadero does ordain
as follows:
SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
It is the purpose and intent of this Ordinance to regulate sexually oriented
businesses to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the
citizens of the City and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent
any deleterious location and concentration of sexually oriented businesses within
the City, thereby reducing or eliminating the adverse secondary effects from such
sexually oriented businesses. The provisions of this ordinance have neither the
purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of any
communicative materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is not
the intent nor effect of this ordinance to restrict or deny access by adults to
sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment, or to deny access
by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually oriented entertainment to their
intended market.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this division, certain terms and words are defined as follows:
A. "Sexually oriented businesses" are those businesses defined as follows:
1 . "Adult arcade" means an establishment where, for any form of
consideration, one or more still or motion picture projectors, slide
projectors, or similar machines, or other image producing machines,
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(including but not by way of limitation any machine or device that
produces images by use of computer software, optical discs, compact
discs or similar method), for viewing by five or fewer persons each,
are regularly used to show films, motion pictures, video cassettes,
slides, or other photographic reproductions which are characterized
by the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or
"specified anatomical areas".
2. "Adult Bookstore", "Adult Novelty Store" or "Adult Video Store"
means a commercial establishment which devotes more than 25% of
the total floor area used for display, sale or rental to display, sell or
rent, for any form of consideration any of or combination of the
following:
a. Books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter,
or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes,
slides, or other visual representations (including but not
by way of limitation any machine or device that produces
images by use of computer software, optical discs,
compact discs or similar method), which are
distinguished by their emphasis on depiction or
description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified
anatomical areas," or defined as obscene matter or
harmful matter by California Penal Code Sections 311,
or 313, or their respective successor sections;
b. Instruments, devices, or paraphernalia which are
designed for use or marketed primarily for stimulation of
human genital organs or for sadomasochistic use or
abuse of themselves or others.
c. An establishment may have other principal business
purposes that do not involve the offering for sale rental or
viewing of materials depicting or describing "specified sexual
activities" or "specified anatomical areas", and still be
categorized as adult bookstore, adult novelty store, or adult
video store. Such other business purposes will not serve to
exempt such establishments from being categorized as an adult
bookstore, adult novelty store or adult video store so long as it
meets the 25% threshold as described in 2 (a) and (b) above.
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3. "Adult cabaret" means a nightclub, bar, restaurant "bottle club", or
similar commercial establishment, whether or not alcoholic beverages are
served, which regularly features: (a) persons who appear nude or in a state
of nudity or seminude; (b) live performances which are characterized by the
exposure of "specified anatomical areas" or by "specified sexual activities",
or (c) films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or other photographic
reproductions, (including but not by way of limitation any machine or
device that produces images by use of computer software, optical discs,
compact discs or similar method), which are characterized by the depiction
or description of " specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical
areas". An adult cabaret is a sexually oriented business.
4. "Adult motel" means a motel, hotel or similar commercial establishment
which: (a) offers public accommodations, for any form of consideration,
which provides patrons with closed-circuit television transmissions, films,
motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions
a substantial portion of the total presentation time of which is characterized
by the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified
anatomical areas" and which advertises the availability of this sexually
oriented type of material by means of a sign visible from the public
right-of-way, or by means of any off-premises advertising including but not
limited to, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets or leaflets, radio or television,
or (b) offers a sleeping room for rent for a period of time less than ten (10)
hours; or (c) allows a tenant or occupant to sub-rent the sleeping room for a
time period of less than ten (10) hours. An adult motel is a sexually
oriented business.
5. "Adult motion picture theater" means a commercial establishment where
films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or similar photographic
reproductions (including but not by way of limitation any machine or device
that produces images by use of computer software, optical discs, compact
discs or similar method), which are characterized by the depiction or
description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"
are regularly shown for any form of consideration. Use is regular when the
specified presentations constitute a substantial part of the theater's
revenues. An adult motion picture theater is a sexually oriented business.
6. "Adult Theater" means a theater, concert hall, auditorium, or similar
commercial establishment which, for any form of consideration, regularly
features persons who appear in a state of nudity or live performances which
are characterized by exposure of "specified anatomical areas" or by
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"specified sexual activities." Such activity is regularly featured when the
specified activity appearances, or performances, or any combination
thereof, constitute a substantial part of all the theater's activities,
appearances, or performances. An adult theater is a sexually oriented
business.
7. "Massage parlor" means any place where, for any form of consideration
or gratuity, massage, alcohol rub, administration of fomentations, electric
or magnetic treatments, or any other treatment manipulation of the human
body which occurs as a part of or in connection with "specified sexual
activities", or where any person providing such treatment, manipulation, or
service related thereto, exposes his or her "specified anatomical areas".
8. "Nude Model Studio" means any place where a person, who regularly
appears in a state of nudity or displays "specified anatomical areas" is
provided for money or any form of consideration to be observed, sketched,
drawn, painted, sculptured, photographed, or similarly depicted by other
persons. A nude model studio is a sexually oriented business.
9. "Sexual encounter establishment" means a business or commercial
establishment, that as one of its primary business purposes, offers for any
form of consideration, a place where two or more persons may congregate,
associate, or consort for the purpose of "specified sexual activities" or the
exposure of "specified anatomical areas" or activities when one or more of
the persons is in a state of nudity or semi-nude. The definition of sexually
oriented businesses shall not include an establishment where a medical
practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, or similar professional person
licensed by the state engages in medically approved and recognized sexual
therapy. A sexual encounter establishment is a sexually oriented business.
B . "Employee" means a person who works or performs in and/or for a sexually
oriented business, regardless of whether or not said person is paid a salary,
wage or other compensation by the operator of said business.
C. "Establishment" means and includes any of the following:
1 . The opening or commencement of any such business as a new business;
2. The conversion of an existing business, whether or not a sexually
oriented business, to any of the sexually oriented businesses defined in this
chapter;
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3. The addition of any of the sexually oriented businesses defined in this
chapter to any other existing sexually oriented business; or
4. Addition of sexually oriented business to an existing business if the
addition results in enlarging the place of business. 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
position thereof, whether located on the same or an adjacent lot.
5. The relocation of any such sexually oriented business.
D . "Nudity or State of Nudity" means: (a) the appearance of human bare
buttock, anus, male genitals, female genitals, or the areola or nipple of the
female breast; or (b) a state of dress which fails to opaquely and fully
cover a human buttocks, anus, male or female genitals, pubic region or
areola or nipple of the female breast.
E. "Operator" means and includes the owner, permit holder, custodian,
manager, operator or person in charge of any permitted or licensed
premises.
F. "Permitted or Licensed Premises" means any premises that requires a
license and/or permit and that is classified as a sexually oriented business.
G "Permittee and/or Licensee " means a person in whose name a permit
and/or license to operate a sexually oriented business has been issued, as
well as the individual listed as an applicant on the application for a permit
and/or license.
H. "Person" means an individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation,
association, or other legal entity.
I. "Public building" means any building owned, leased or held by the United
States, the state, the county, the city, any special district, school district, or
any other agency or political subdivision of the state or the United States,
which building is used for governmental purposes.
J. "Public park" or "recreation area" means public land which has been
designated for park or recreational activities including but not limited to a
park, playground, nature trails, swimming pool, reservoir, athletic field,
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basketball or tennis courts, pedestrian/bicycle paths, open space, wilderness
areas, or similar public land within the city which is under the control,
operation, or management of the city park and recreation authorities.
K . "Religious institution" means any church, synagogue, mosque, temple or
building which is used primarily for religious worship and related religious
activities.
L. "Residential District or Use" means a single family, duplex, townhouse,
multiple family, or mobile park or subdivision and campground as defined in
the Municipal Code.
M. "School" means any public or private educational facility including but not
limited to child day care facilities, nursery schools, preschools,
kindergartens, elementary schools, primary schools, intermediate schools,
junior high schools, middle schools, high schools, vocational schools,
secondary schools, continuation schools, special education schools, junior
colleges, and universities. School includes the school grounds, but does not
include the facilities used primarily for another purpose and only incidentally
as a school.
N. "Semi-Nude" means a state of dress in which clothing covers no more than
the genitals, pubic, region, and areolae of the female breast, as well as
portions of the body covered by supporting straps or devices.
0 . "Sexually Oriented Business" means an adult arcade, adult bookstore, adult
novelty shop, adult video store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion
picture theater, adult theater, massage parlor, sexual encounter
establishment, or nude model studio.
P. "Specified Anatomical Areas," as used in this division means and
includes any of the following:
1. Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, pubic
region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts below a point immediately above
the top of the areolae; or
2. Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely
and opaquely covered.
Q . "Specified Sexual Activities," as used in this Division, means and includes
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any of the following:
1 . The fondling or other intentional touching of human genitals, pubic
region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts;
2. Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including
intercourse, oral copulation, or sodomy;
3. Masturbation, actual or simulated; or
4. Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal or tumescence;
5. Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the
activities set forth in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection.
R. "Substantial Enlargement of a Sexually Oriented Business" means
increase in the floor areas occupied by the business by more than
15%, as the floor areas exist on the effective date of this ordinance.
SECTION 3. ESTABLISHMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF
BUSINESSES REGULATED.
A. The establishment of a sexually oriented business shall be permitted only in
the CS (Commercial Services) and I (Industrial) zones, and shall be subject
to the following restrictions. No person shall cause or permit the
establishment of any of the following sexually oriented businesses, as
defined above, within 1,000 feet of another such business or within 1,000
feet of any religious institution, school, boys' club, girls' club, or similar
existing youth organization, or public park or public building.
1 . adult arcade
2. adult bookstore, adult novelty store or adult video store
3. adult cabaret
4. adult motel
5. adult motion picture theater
6. adult theater
7. massage parlor
8. sexual encounter establishment or
9. nude model studio.
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B. Nothing in this Section prohibits the location of sexually oriented businesses
within retail shopping centers in all zones and within zones wherein such
activities will have their only frontage upon enclosed malls or malls isolated
from direct view from public streets, parks, schools, religious institutions,
boys' clubs, girls' clubs, or similar existing youth organization, public
buildings or residential districts or uses without regard to the distance
requirements of Subsection A. above.
C. Nothing in this Section prohibits the location of a home occupation that
otherwise complies with the Atascadero Municipal Code.
D. No sexually oriented business shall be established within the Downtown
Zone 1 (Pedestrian Commercial Zone), Downtown Zone 2 , (Downtown
Commercial Zone), Downtown Zone 3 (Restaurant and Entertainment
Zone) or Downtown Zone 4 (Commercial Zone).
SECTION 4. MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE.
As regarding Section 3, paragraph A., distance between any two sexually
oriented businesses shall be measured in a straight line, without regard to
intervening structures, from the closest exterior structural wall of each business.
The distance between any sexually oriented business and any religious institution,
public or private elementary or secondary school, boys club, girls club, or similar
existing youth organization, or public park or public building or any properties
zoned for residential use or used for residential purposes shall also be measured in
a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects from the nearest
portion of the building or structure used as part of the premises where the sexually
oriented business is conducted, to the nearest property line of the premises of a
religious institution, public or private elementary or secondary school, boys club,
girls club, or similar existing youth organization, or public park or public building or
any properties zoned for residential use or used for residential purposes.
SECTION 5. LOCATION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
The City of Atascadero's Zoning Ordinance hereby requires that sexually
oriented businesses shall be permitted only as provided in Section 3 in which such
use is listed as permissible. Permits for sexually oriented businesses shall be
required and governed by the procedures and policies specified in Section 8 et.
seq. of this division. In addition, any sexually oriented business shall be subject
to the following restrictions:
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1 . The person commits a misdemeanor, if he operates or causes to be
operated a sexually oriented business except as provided in Section 3.
2. The person commits a misdemeanor if he operates or causes to be
operated a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of: (a) any religious
institution; (b) any school; (c) a public park adjacent to any residential
district; (d) a boys club, girls club, or similar existing youth organization,
except as provided in Section 3. B.
3. A person commits a misdemeanor if he operates or causes to be
operated a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of another such
business, which will include, any adult arcade, adult book store, adult
video store, adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, adult
theater, massage parlor or any sexual encounter establishment, except as
provided in Section 3. B.
4. A person commits a misdemeanor if he causes or permits the operation,
establishment, or maintenance of more than one sexually oriented business
within the same building, structure, or portion thereof, except as provided
in Section 3.13., or causes the substantial enlargement of any sexually
oriented business in any building, structure or portion thereof containing
another sexually oriented business.
5. It is a defense to prosecution under this section if a person appearing in
a state of nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
a. by a proprietary school, licensed by the State of California;
a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or
partly by taxation;
b. by a private college or university which maintains and
operates educational programs in which credits are transferable
to a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or
partly by taxation; or
c. in a structure:
(1) which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure
and no other advertising that indicates a nude person is
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available for viewing; and
(2) where, in order to participate in a class a student must
enroll at least three (3) days in advance of the class; and
(3) where no more than one nude model is on the
premises at any one time.
SECTION 6. REGULATIONS GOVERNING EXISTING SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
A. Any sexually oriented businesses lawfully operating on, the effective date of
this ordinance that is in violation of Sections 3 and 5 of this division, shall
be deemed a non-conforming use. A non-conforming use will be permitted
to continue for a period of five years, with a possible extension of two years
to be granted by the Planning Commission only upon a convincing showing
of extreme financial hardship which is defined as the recovery of the initial
financial investment in the non-conforming use, unless sooner terminated
for any reason or voluntarily discontinued for a period of thirty (30) days or
more. Such non conforming uses shall not be increased, enlarged, extended
or altered except to a conforming use. If two (2) or more sexually oriented
businesses are within 1,000 feet of one another and otherwise in a
permissible location, the sexually oriented business which was first
established and continually operating at the particular location is the
conforming use and the later established business(es) is non-conforming,
except as provided in Section 3.13.
B. A sexually oriented business lawfully operating as conforming use is not
rendered a non-conforming use by the location, subsequent to the grant or
renewal of a sexually oriented business permit and/or license, of a church,
public or private elementary or secondary school, public park, public
building, residential district, or residential lot within 1 ,000 feet of the
sexually oriented business. This provision applies only to the renewal of
valid permit and/or license and does not apply when an application for a
permit and/or license is submitted after a permit and/or license has expired
or has been revoked.
C. Any establishment subject to the provision of this section shall apply for the
permit provided for by Section 10 within thirty (30) days of the effective
date of this ordinance. Any establishment, existing prior to the effective
date of this ordinance, shall comply with the regulations pertaining to
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Sections 20 and 22, within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this
ordinance, and all other applicable permit regulations within thirty (30) days
of the effective date of this ordinance.
SECTION 7. INJUNCTION
A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented
business without having a valid permit due to locational restrictions is subject to a
suit for injunction as well as prosecution for the criminal violation. Such violation
shall be punishable by a fine of $1,000. 00 and/or thirty (30) days imprisonment,
and if an injunction must be sought, attorneys fees and costs will be assessed at
the discretion of the Court against the sexually oriented business.
SECTION 8. SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS PERMIT: PURPOSE AND INTENT.
It is the purpose of this ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses
to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the citizens of the
City, and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent deleterious
effects of sexually oriented businesses within the City. The provisions of this
Ordinance have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or
restriction on the content of any communicative materials, including sexually
oriented materials. Similarly, it is not the intent nor effect of this Ordinance to
restrict or deny access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the
First Amendment, or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually
oriented entertainment to their intended market. Neither is it the intent or effect of
this Ordinance to in any way condone or legitimize the distribution of obscene or
harmful to minors' material.
SECTION 9. PERMIT REQUIRED
A. No sexually oriented business shall be permitted to operate without a valid
sexually oriented business permit issued by the City for the particular type
of business. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if
he/she operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business
without said permit.
B. The City Manager or his/her designee is responsible for granting, denying,
revoking, renewing, suspending, and canceling sexually oriented business
permits for proposed or existing sexually oriented businesses. The City
Manager or his/her designee is also responsible for ascertaining whether a
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proposed sexually oriented business for which a permit is being applied for
complies with all locational requirements of Sections 3, S, and 6 of this
Ordinance, all applicable zoning laws and/or regulations now in effect or as
amended or enacted subsequent to the effective date of this Ordinance in
the City and the City Comprehensive Plan.
C. An application for a permit must be made on a form provided by the City.
Any person desiring to operate a sexually oriented business shall file with
the City an original and two copies of a sworn permit application on the
standard application form supplied by the City or designee.
D. The completed application shall contain the following information and shall
be accompanied by the following documents:
1 . If the applicant is:
a. an individual, the individual shall state his/her legal name and any
aliases and submit satisfactory proof that he/she is eighteen years of
age;
b. a partnership, the partnership shall state its complete name, and
the names of all partners, whether the partnership is general or
limited, and a copy of the partnership agreement, if any;
c. a corporation, the corporation shall state its complete name, the
date of its incorporation, evidence that the corporation is in good
standing under the laws of California the names and capacity of all
officers, directors and principal stockholders, and the name of the
registered corporate agent and the address of the registered office for
service of process.
2. If the applicant intends to operate the sexually oriented business under a
name other than that of the applicant; he must state 1) the sexually oriented
business's fictitious name.
3. The single classification of permit for which the applicant is filing.
4. The location of the proposed sexually oriented business, including
a legal description of the property, street address, and telephone
number(s), if any.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 17
5. The applicant's mailing addresses and residential address.
6. A sketch or diagram showing the configuration of the premises,
including a statement of total floor space occupied by the business. The
sketch or diagram need not be professionally prepared, but it must be drawn
to scale or drawn with marked dimensions of the interior of the premises.
7. If a person who wishes to operate a sexually oriented business is an
individual, he/she must sign the application for a permit as applicant. If a
person who wishes to operate a sexually oriented business is other than an
individual, each individual who has a ten percent (10%) or greater interest in
the business must sign the application for a permit as applicant. If a
corporation is listed as owner of a sexually oriented business or as the
entity which wishes to operate such a business, each individual having a ten
percent (10%) or greater interest in the corporation must sign the
application for a permit as applicant.
8. If a person wishes to operate a sexually oriented business which shall
exhibit on the premises films, video cassettes, or other video reproductions
which depict specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, then
said person shall comply with the application requirements stated at Section
20 et. seq.
E . Applicants for a permit under this Section shall have a continuing duty to
promptly supplement application information required by this Section in the
event that said information changes in any way from what is stated on the
application. The failure to comply with said continuing duty within thirty
(30) days from the date of such change, by supplementing the application
on file with the City Manager or his/her designee, shall be grounds for
suspension of a permit.
F. In the event that the City Manager or his/her designee determines or learns
at any time that the applicant has improperly completed the application for a
proposed sexually oriented business, he/she shall promptly notify the
applicant of such fact and allow the applicant ten (10) days to properly
complete the application. (The time period for granting or denying a permit
shall be stayed during the period in which the applicant is allowed an
opportunity to properly complete the application.)
G. The premises must be inspected and found to be in compliance with health,
fire and building codes and laws.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 18
H. The applicant shall be required to pay a non-refundable application fee of
one hundred dollars ($100.00) at the time of filing an application under this
Section of this Ordinance.
I . Prior to obtaining any permit or license to operate any sexually oriented
business defined in this Ordinance, and as part of any application for a
permit under this Section, the applicant shall obtain from the City or its
designee a certification that the proposed location of such business
complies with the locational requirements of Section 5 and 6 of this
Ordinance.
J. The fact that a person possesses other types of State or City permits and/or
licenses does not exempt him/her from the requirement of obtaining a
sexually oriented business permit.
SECTION 10. INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION.
A . Upon receipt of an application properly filed with the City and upon payment
of the non-refundable application fee, the City or its designee, shall
immediately stamp the application as received and shall immediately
thereafter send photocopies of the application to any other City agencies
responsible for enforcement of health, fire and building codes and laws.
Each department or agency shall promptly conduct an investigation of the
applicant, application and the proposed sexually oriented business in
accordance with its responsibilities under law and as set forth in this
Ordinance. Said investigation shall be completed within twenty (20) days of
receipt of the application by the City or its designee. At the conclusion of its
investigation, each department or agency shall indicate on the photocopy of
the application its approval or disapproval of the application, date it, sign it,
and, in the event it disapproves, state the reasons therefor.
B. A department or agency shall disapprove an application if it finds that the
proposed sexually oriented business will be in violation of any provision of
any statute, code, ordinance, regulation or other law in effect in the City.
After its indication of approval or disapproval, each department or agency
shall immediately return the photocopy of the application to the City or its
designee.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 19
SECTION 11. ISSUANCE OF PERMIT.
A . The City Manager or his/her designee, shall grant or deny an application for
a permit within thirty (30) days from the date of its proper filing. Upon the
expiration of the thirtieth (30th) day, unless the applicant requests and is
granted a reasonable extension of time, the applicant shall be permitted to
begin operating the business for which the permit is sought, unless and until
the City or its designee, notifies the applicant of a denial of the application
and states the reasons(s) for that denial.
B . Grant of Application for Permit
1 . The City Manager or his/her designee, shall grant the application unless
one or more of the criteria set forth in Section C below is present.
2. The permit, if granted, shall state on its face the name of the person or
persons to whom it is granted, the expiration date, and the address of the
sexually oriented business.
C. Denial of Application for Permit
1 . The City Manager or his/her designee, shall deny the application for any
of the following reasons:
a. An applicant is under eighteen years of age.
b. An applicant has failed to provide information required by
this Section or permit application for the issuance of the permit
or has falsely answered a question or request for information
on the application form.
c. The premises to be used for the sexually oriented business
have not been approved as being in compliance with health,
fire and building codes by the department or agency
responsible under law for investigating said compliance.
d. The application or permit fees required by this Ordinance
have not been paid.
e. An applicant of the proposed business is in violation of, or is
not in compliance with, any of the provisions of this Ordinance
Ordinance No. 298
Page 20
including but not limited to the zoning locational requirements
for a sexually oriented business under Sections 3, 5, and 6.
f. The granting of the application would violate a statute, ordinance,
or court order.
2. If the City Manager or his/her designee, denies the application,
he/she shall notify the applicant of the denial and state the reasons(s)
for the denial.
3. If a person applies for a permit for a particular location within a period of
twelve (12) months from the date of denial of a previous application for a
permit at the location, and there has not been an intervening change in the
circumstances which could reasonably be expected to lead to a different
decision regarding the former reasons for denial, the application shall be
denied.
SECTION 12. ANNUAL PERMIT FEE
The annual fee for a sexually oriented business permit is Eight Hundred Fifty
Dollars ($850.00).
SECTION 13. INSPECTION
A. An applicant or permittee shall permit representatives of the Code
Enforcement Office, the County Health Department, and the Fire Department
to inspect the premises of a sexually oriented business for the purpose of
insuring compliance with the law, at any time it is occupied or open for
business.
B . It shall be unlawful and a person who operates a sexually oriented business
regardless of whether or not a permit has been issued for said business
under this Ordinance, or his/her agent or employee commits a misdemeanor
if he/she refuses to permit such lawful inspection of the premises at any
time that it is occupied or open for business.
SECTION 14. EXPIRATION OF PERMIT.
A. Each permit shall expire one (1) year from the date of issuance and may be
renewed only by making application as provided in Section 11 (for renewals,
Ordinance No. 298
Page 21
filing of original survey shall be sufficient) of this Ordinance. Application for
renewal shall be made at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date,
and when made less than thirty (30) days before the expiration date, the
expiration of the permit will not be affected.
SECTION 15. REVOCATION OF PERMIT.
A . The City Manager or his/her designee shall revoke a permit if a cause of
suspension in Section 15. of this Ordinance occurs and the permit has been
suspended within the preceding twelve (12) months.
B . The City Manager or his/her designee, shall revoke a permit upon
determining that:
1 . A permittee gave false or misleading information in the material
submitted during the application enhance the applicant's opportunity
for obtaining a permit; or
2. A permittee or an employee has knowingly allowed possession, use or
sale of controlled substances in or on the premises; or
3. A permittee or an employee has knowingly allowed prostitution on the
premises; or
4. A permittee or an employee has knowingly allowed any act of sexual
intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, masturbation, or any other specified
sexual activities to occur in or on the permitted premises.
C. When the City Manager or his/her designee, revokes a permit, the
revocation shall continue for one (1) year and the permittee shall not
be issued a sexually oriented business permit for one (1) year from
the date revocation became effective. If, subsequent to revocation,
the City Manager or his/her designee finds that the basis for
revocation under Section 15 of this Ordinance has been corrected,
the applicant shall be granted a permit if at least ninety (90) days
have elapsed since the date revocation became effective. If the permit
was revoked under Section 15 of this Ordinance, an applicant may
not be granted another permit until the number of years required
under Section 16. have elapsed.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 22
SECTION 16. REVIEW OF PERMIT DENIAL, SUSPENSION
OR REVOCATION.
After denial of an application, or denial of a renewal of an application, or
suspension or revocation of a permit, the applicant or permittee may seek prompt
review of such administrative action through the City Council or special City
Review Board if one is established by the City.
SECTION 17. TRANSFER OF PERMIT.
A. A permittee shall not operate a sexually oriented business under the
authority of a permit at any place other than the address designated in the
application for permit.
B . A permittee shall not transfer his permit to another location.
C . Any attempt to transfer a permit either directly or indirectly in violation of
this Section is hereby declared void and the permit shall be deemed revoked.
SECTION 18. REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO EXHIBITION OF
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT FILMS OR VIDEOS IN VIDEO
BOOTHS.
A. A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented
business, other than a sexually oriented motel/hotel and regardless of
whether or not a permit has been issued to said business under this
Ordinance, which exhibits on the premises in a viewing room of less than
one hundred fifty (150) square feet of floor space, a film, video cassette or
other video reproduction which depicts specified sexual activities or
specified anatomical areas, shall comply with the following requirements:
1 . Upon application for a sexually oriented business permit, the application
shall be accompanied by a diagram of the premises showing a plan thereof
specifying the location of one or more manager's stations, the location of all
overhead lighting fixtures and designating any portion of the premises in
which patrons will not be permitted. A manager's station may not exceed
thirty-two (32) square feet of floor area with no dimension greater than
eight (8) feet. The diagram shall also designate the place at which this
permit will be conspicuously posted, if granted. A professionally prepared
diagram in the nature of an engineer's or architect's blueprint shall not be
required; however, each diagram should be oriented to the north or to some
Ordinance No. 298
Page 23
designated street or object and should be drawn to a designated scale with
marked dimensions sufficient to show the various internal dimension of all
areas of the interior of the premises to an accuracy of plus or minus six (6)
inches. The City Manager or his/her designee, may waive the foregoing
diagram for renewal applications if the applicant adopts a diagram that was
previously submitted and certifies that the configuration of the premises has
not been altered since it was prepared.
2. The application shall be sworn to be true and correct by the applicant.
3. No alteration in the configuration or location of a manager's station may
be made without the prior approval of the City or its designee.
4. It is the duty of the owners and operator of the premises to insure that
at least one employee is on duty and situated at each manger's station at all
times that any patron is present inside the premises.
5. The interior of the premises shall be configured in such a manner that
there is an unobstructed view from a manager's station of every area of the
premises to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose,
excluding restrooms. Restrooms may not contain video reproduction
equipment. If the premises have two or more manager's stations
designated, then the interior of the premises shall be configured in such a
manner that there is an unobstructed view of each area of the premises to
which any patron is permitted access for any purpose from at least one of
the manager's stations. The view required in this subsection must be by
direct line of sight from the manager's station.
6. It shall be the duty of the owners and operator, and it shall also be the
duty of any agents and employees present on the premises to insure that
the view area specified in Subsection 5 remains unobstructed by any doors,
walls, merchandise, display racks or other materials or person at all times
and to insure that no patron is permitted access to any area of the premises
which has been designated as an area in which patrons will not be
permitted in the application filed pursuant to Subsection a. of this Section.
7. No viewing room may be occupied by more than one person at any one
time. No holes, commonly known as "glory holes," shall be allowed in the
walls or partitions which separate each viewing room from an adjoining
viewing room or restroom.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 24
8. The premises shall be equipped with overhead lighting fixtures of
sufficient intensity to illuminate every place to which patrons are permitted
access and an illumination of not less than two (2.0) foot candle as
measured at the floor level.
9. It shall be the duty of the owners and operator and it shall also be the
duty of any agents and employees present on the premises to insure that
the illumination described above is maintained at all times that any patron is
present on the premises.
B. A person having a duty under Section 9 commits a misdemeanor if he/she
knowingly fails to fulfill that duty.
SECTION 19. PROHIBITIONS REGARDING MINORS AND SEXUALLY
ORIENTED BUSINESSES.
A person commits a misdemeanor if he/she operates or causes to be
operated a sexually oriented business, regardless of whether or not a permit has
been issued for said business under this Ordinance, and knowingly or with
reasonable cause to know, permit, suffer, or allow:
A. Admittance of a person under eighteen (18) years of age to the business
premises unless accompanied by a parent or guardian;
B. A person under eighteen (18) years of age to remain at the business
premises unless accompanied by a parent or guardian;
C. A person under eighteen (18) years of age to purchase goods or
services at the business premises without the specific consent of a
parent or guardian; or
D. A person who is under eighteen (18) years of age to work at the business
premises as an employee.
SECTION 20. ADVERTISING AND LIGHTING REGULATIONS.
A. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if he/she operates
or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business, regardless of whether
or not a permit has been issued for said business under this Ordinance, and
advertises the presentation of any activity prohibited by any applicable State
statute or local ordinance.
Ordinance No. 298
Page 25
B. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if he/she
operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business,
regardless of whether or not a permit has been issued for said
business under this Ordinance, and displays or otherwise exhibits any
materials depicting, describing, or relating to specified sexual
activities or specified anatomical areas from any public property or
way outside the building area of the business. This provisions shall
apply to any display, decoration, sign, show window, or other
opening. This prohibition shall not extend to advertising of the
existence or location of such sexually oriented business.
C. The permittee shall not allow any portion of the interior premises to be
visible from outside the premises.
D. All off-street parking areas and premise entries of the sexually oriented
business shall be illuminated from dusk to closing hours of operation with a
lighting system which provides an average maintained horizontal
illumination of one (1 .0) foot candle of light on the parking surface and/or
walkways. This required lighting level is established in order to provide
sufficient illumination of the parking areas and walkways serving the
sexually oriented business for the personal safety of patrons and employees
and to reduce the incidence of vandalism and criminal conduct. The lighting
shall be shown on the required sketch or diagram of the premise.
E. Nothing contained in this Section of the Ordinance shall relieve the
operator(s) of a sexually oriented business from complying with the
requirements of the City of commonly known as the Sexually Oriented
Business Ordinance, as it may be amended from time to time, or any
subsequently enacted City ordinances or regulations, nor shall anything
contained herein relieve a sexually oriented business from complying with
other development, performance, design, and signage requirements of the
Zone in which they are located.
SECTION 21. HOURS OF OPERATION.
A. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if he/she operates
or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business, regardless of whether
or not a permit has been issued for said business under this Ordinance, and
allows such business to remain open for business, or to permit any
Ordinance No. 298
Page 26
employee to engage in a performance, solicit a performance, make a sale,
solicit a sale, provide a service, or solicit a service, between the hours of
2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any particular day.
B. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if, working as an
employee of a sexually oriented business, regardless of whether or not a
permit has been issued for said business under this Ordinance, said
employee engages in a performance, solicits a performance, makes a sale,
solicits a sale, provides a service, or solicits a service between the hours of
2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. of any particular day.
SECTION 22. NUDITY AT SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
PROHIBITED.
A. The United States Supreme Court decision in Barnes v. Glen Theater, Inc.,
501 U.S. 560, 111 (1991) which upheld the rights of cities to prohibit live
public exposure of a person'(s) private parts, specifically applies to sexually
oriented businesses (regardless of whether or not a permit has been issued
to said businesses under this Ordinance), including said businesses where
no alcoholic beverages are sold, served, or consumed at the premises.
B . Public nudity is prohibited within the City of Atascadero including any
sexually oriented business. Any sexually oriented business which is found in
violation of this section shall have its permit suspended pursuant to the
provisions of Section 15.
SECTION 23. ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL PROHIBITIONS FOR THE OPERATION OF
A SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESS WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT.
A. In addition to the criminal provisions found at other sections of this
Ordinance, the following additional criminal provisions shall also apply to
sexually oriented businesses.
B. It shall be unlawful and a person commits a misdemeanor if he/she operates
or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business, regardless of whether
or not a permit has been issued for said business under this Ordinance, and
said person knows or should know that:
1 . The business does not have a sexually oriented business permit under
this Ordinance for any applicable classification;
Ordinance No. 298
Page 27
2. The business has a permit which has been revoked; or
3. The business has a permit which has expired.
SECTION 24. EXEMPTIONS.
A. It is a defense to prosecution for any violation of this Ordinance that a
person appearing in a state of nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
1 . By a college, junior college, or university supported entirely or partly by
taxation;
2. By a private college or university which maintains and operates
educational programs in which credits are transferable to a college, junior
college, or university supported entirely or partly by taxation; or:
3. In a structure:
a. Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the structure and no
other advertising that indicates a nude person is available for viewing;
and
b. Where, in order to participate in a class a student must enroll at
least three days in advance of the class; and
c. Where no more than one nude model is on the premises at
any one time.
SECTION 25. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND ADDITIONAL LEGAL,
EQUITABLE, AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.
A . In addition to whatever penalties are applicable under the California Penal
Code, if any person fails or refuses to obey or comply with or violates any
of the criminal provisions of this Ordinance, such person upon conviction of
such offense, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a
fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not
to exceed sixty (60) days in the City jail, or both, in the discretion of the
Court. Each violation or noncompliance shall be considered a separate and
distinct offense. Further, each day of continued violation or non-compliance
shall be considered as a separate offense.
B. Nothing herein contained shall prevent or restrict the City from taking such
Ordinance No. 298
Page 28
other lawful action in any court of competent jurisdiction as is necessary to
prevent or remedy any violation or non-compliance. Such other lawful
actions shall include, but shall not be limited to, an equitable action for
injunctive relief or an action at law for damages.
C. All remedies and penalties provided for in this Section shall be cumulative
and independently available to the City and the City shall be authorized to
pursue any and all remedies set forth in this Section to the full extent
allowed by law.
D. The owners, operators and managers of premises which constitute a
sexually oriented business are responsible for compliance with this Code.
SECTION 26. SEVERABILITY
If any section, subsection or clause of this ordinance shall be deemed to be
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the remaining sections,
subsections and clauses shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in effect.
On motion by Councilperson Carden and seconded by Councilperson Johnson,
the foregoing Ordinance is hereby adopted in its entirety on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Bewley, Carden, Johnson, Luna and Mayor Highland
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ADOPTED: March 12, 1996
ATTEST CITY OF ATASCADERO
By:
LEE PRi E, City Clerk IbEORdt P. HIG'kOND, Mayor
Ordinance No. 298
Page 29
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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ROY A. ANLEY, Dep City Attorney