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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - MORATORIUM ADULT USES (2)AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval Item to be presented by: Glenn Adamick PUBLIC HEARING DATE: November 26, 1996 SUBJECT: EXTEND THE MORATORIUM ON ADULT USES FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF TEN MONTHS AND FIFTEEN DAYS URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 96-22 J-5— DEPARTMENT: 5 DEPARTMENT: Community Development 1 lkIC On October 22, 1996, the City Council adopted the above referenced ordinance establishing a 45 day moratorium on adult uses and directed staff to prepare a permanent adult business ordinance. The moratorium ordinance provided a request for exception procedure consistent with legal requirements. In order to extend the moratorium adopted by Ordinance No. 96-33, the City must issue, at least ten days prior to its adoption of an extension, a report detailing and describing the measures taken to, alleviate the condition which required the.adoption of the moratorium ordinance. This one page report is attached and reflects the actions taken to date to extend the moratorium. RECOMMENDATION 1) Open the public hearing. 2) Approve the extension of the moratorium on adult uses for a maximum time period of ten months and fifteen days with the understanding that the extension will take effect on December 6, 1996. ATTACHMENT Summary GEA:lep �� Council\aradlt.ext d qb� to Agenda Item -16 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Report Required by Government Code Section 65858 (d) Since the adoption of Ordinance No. 96-33 on October 22, 1996, staff has completed various tasks in formulating a permanent adult business/use ordinance. Staff has gathered information from several cities who have recently enacted an adult business ordinance. Staff has collected data related to establishing location requirements for adult businesses. The City's Finance Division is presently researching business licensing requirements for adult businesses. The Planning Commission is scheduled to conduct its first public hearing on revising the adult business ordinance on November 19, 1996. At this, meeting the Planning Commission will consider recommended location requirements and development standards. Staff is also in the process of developing forms and submittal requirements for adult business permits. The above reflects the actions taken during this short time period to warrant an extension of the moratorium on adult uses. GEA: nurent\adlLaum.gea NO. 96-35 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING FOR A PERIOD OF TEN MONTHS AND FIFTEEN DAYS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65858 A MORATORIUM ON ADULT USES AND AN EXCEPTION PROCESS ALLOWING APPLICATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONS AS TO ADULT USES WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: A. On October 22, 1996, the City Council following public testimony adopted an urgency ordinance under the provisions of Government Code Section 65858 imposing a moratorium on adult uses and providing for exceptions thereto. The City Council also considered all public comments offered and at the conclusion thereof adopted Ordinance No. 96-33. B. Unless an extension to the moratorium adopted by Ordinance No. 96-33 is adopted, the moratorium will terminate on December 5, 1996 and no new moratorium may thereinafter be enacted. C. The City Council has held a duly noticed public meeting and hearing to consider the adoption of this Ordinance extending the moratorium for a period of ten months and fifteen days in accordance with Government Code Section 65858. The City Council considered all of the written and oral comments offered. D. The City Council finds that at least ten (10) days prior to the expiration of the interim Ordinance in accordance with Government Code Section 65858(d), the City Council caused to be issued a written report on its behalf detailing the measures taken to alleviate the conditions which led to the adoption of the moratorium ordinance. E. The provisions of the City's Municipal Code that regulate adult businesses are inadequate and need review, study, and probable revision which has begun by gathering information from other jurisdictions or options for the City to consider. Such provisions fail to fully take into account the secondary effects that are associated with adult uses and fail to address the needs of the City and its residents today and in the future. F. Without the extension.of this moratorium and exception process, properties in the City could quickly receive entitlement LAX2:161992.1 to establish adult uses despite the fact that the City Council has determined that the City's Municipal Code is in need of updating and has directed that a study be done to -recommend new standards and revised Municipal Code sections -to address adult uses. G. The City Council directs that all studies be pursued as expeditiously as is practicable. In order to prevent the frustration of said studies and the implementation thereof, the public interest, health, safety, and welfare require the immediate enactment of this Ordinance. The absence of this Ordinance would create a serious threat to the orderly and effective implementation of any zoning amendments or amendments to the City's General Plan (which has just been adopted) which may be adopted by the.City as a result of the studies, in that further development of adult uses within the City may be in conflict with or frustrate the contemplated updates and revisions, to the City's zoning code or General Plan and may result in secondary effects from adult uses in conflict with the contemplated updates and revisions to the City's zoning code or General Plan. H. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is necessary in order to protect the City from the potential secondary effects of adult business including crime, the protection of the City's retail trade, maintenance of property values, protection and preservation of the quality of the City's neighborhoods and the City's commercial districts, the protection of the City's quality of life, and the increased threat of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Experience in this City, as well as in other portions of Southern California, including the County of Los Angeles and the Cities of Renton, Washington; Seattle, Washington; and Detroit, Michigan have demonstrated that such uses have objectionable secondary effects upon immediately adjacent residential and commercial areas. The City recognizes and relies upon the experience of these other cities and counties in adopting adult business regulations including the County of Los Angeles [as discussed in Smith v. County of Los Angeles (1989) 211 Cal.App.3d 188]; City of Renton, Washington [as discussed in City of Renton v. Playtime Theaters, Inc. (1976) 475 U.S. 41]; and the City of Seattle, Washington [as discussed in Northend Cinema v. City of Seattle (1978) 90 Wash.2d 709, 585 P.2d 1153] in support of this Ordinance. I. Experience in this City, as well as other portions of Southern California, and other cities and counties including Renton and Seattle, Washington and Detroit, Michigan have demonstrated that such adult uses when located in close proximity to one another have objectionable secondary effects on adjacent residential and commercial areas. LAX2:164992.1 -2- J. The City Council finds thatthisOrdinance is immediately required to preserve the City, including the City's commercial and residential areas, from the possible secondary effects of adult businesses during the period of time necessary to complete the studies and revised zoning code. The City Council further finds the approval or establishment of any new adult businesses would result in the threat to the public health, safety, and welfare caused by the secondary effects of adult businesses which have caused the City to review its adult business regulations and impose and extend this moratorium. The City Council further finds that inquiry has been made as to the establishment of additional adult businesses in the City the duration of which would impede and possibly defeat the purposes of this moratorium. K. The City Council finds, determines, and declares that a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the City and its citizens necessitates the immediate enactment of the Ordinance. The facts constituting such an urgency.are set forth in Sections A -J, inclusive of this Ordinance. L. The City Council further finds that this is a matter of City-wide.importance and is not -directed towards any particular parcel of property or proposed use. M. In adopting this Ordinance, the City Council intends that 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 adult-oriented materials, that are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the relevant provisions of the California State Constitution. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section One: Regulated Uses. No person shall commence or establish a business or use and no application for discretionary approvals shall be accepted by the City with regard to any of the following types of uses: - Massage Parlors - Adult Bookstores - Adult Theaters - Adult Arcades - Adult Hotel/Motels - Adult Cabaret - Adult Specialty Shops Acupressure - Public Baths T AM:164992.1 -3- Figure Modeling Studios Adult Dance Studios Section Two: Request for Exception. Any person who desires to establish within the City a use which is prohibited from being established by the operation of this Ordinance may request an exception from the City. Any use which is granted an exception may be established in the City irrespective of the provisions of the Municipal Code which provisions are currently under study. All rights or privileges extended by the City in approving a request for exception shall expire one -hundred -twenty (120) days from the effective date of the City ordinance(s) which implement the studies required pursuant to this Ordinance and Government Code section 65858, except as may otherwise.be provided by state or federal law. Except as specifically set forth herein, the grant of a request for exception by the City shall not release the applicant from complying.with.any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation. Section Three: Application for Request for Exception. An application for a request exception shall be subject to the fee and procedures of a minor use permit, pursuant to the findings contained within Section Four of this Ordinance. Section Four: Grant or Denial of Exception. The Planning Commission shall grant, conditionally grant, or deny a request for exception to the provisions of this Ordinance. The Commission shall approve an application for exception where the information submitted by the applicant substantiates the following.findings: a. That the proposed use will be consistent with the General Plan of the City, any other adopted plan of the City, or the adopted plan of any other governmental agency; b. That the proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the yards, walls, fences, parking and loading facilities, landscaping, and other development features prescribed in the City's Municipal Code or as otherwise required in order to integrate said use with the uses in the surrounding area; C. That the.proposed site is adequately served by highways or streets of sufficient width and improved as necessary to carry the kind and quantity of traffic that such use would generate; U+x2:164992.1 -4- d. That the proposed site is adequately served by other public and private service facilities as are required; e. That the subject site is located within one of the following zones: Commercial Town Center (CTC), Community Commercial (CC), Industrial Commercial (IC) or Business Park (BP) zone. f. The requested use at the proposed location will not be located within a five -hundred (500) foot radius to any residential zone or other property used for residential purposes, (hereinafter "residential zone."). The distance between a proposed use and a residential zone shall be measured between the nearest exterior wall of the proposed use, and the nearest lot line included within the residential zone, along a straight line extended between the two points. g. The requested use at the proposed location will not be located within a one thousand (1,000) foot radius of any other regulated use under this Ordinance. Distances between uses shall be measured between the nearest exterior walls or such uses or proposed uses along the shortest route intended and available for public traverse between said uses. h. The requested use at the proposed location will not be within one -thousand (1,000) feet of any existing church, park, or educational institution utilized by minors, hereinafter "Sensitive Use". The distance between a proposed use and a Sensitive Use shall be measured between the nearest exterior wall of the proposed use, and the nearest lot line included within the Sensitive Use, along a straight line extended between the two points. i. The.requested use at the proposed location is sufficiently buffered in relation to residentially zoned areas within the immediate vicinity so as not to adversely affect such areas; j. The exterior appearance of the structure will not be inconsistent with the external appearance of commercial structures already constructed or under construction within the.immediate neighborhood so as to cause blight, deterioration, or substantially diminish or impair property values within the neighborhood; and, k. The proposed use otherwise complies with the zoning and other regulations adopted by the City pertaining to adult businesses and adult uses. LAX2:164992.1 -5- The Planning Commission shall deny the request for exception where the information submitted by the applicant fails to substantiate the above-described findings. The Planning Commission shall render a written decision on the request for exception within thirty (30) days of receiving a -completed application for exception. The Director of Community Development shall determine whether an application is complete within five (5) working days of its submittal to the Community Development Department. Section Five: Appeal of Planning Commission's Decision. Any interested person may appeal the decision of the Planning Commission to the City Council in writing within fifteen (15) days after the decision of the Planning Commission. Notice of the Planning Commission's decision shall be mailed to all property owners within five -hundred (500) feet of the proposed use. Consideration of an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision shall be at a public hearing which shall be advertised in accordance with Government Code Section 56090 and shall occur within thirty (30) days of the filing or initiation of the appeal. The City Council action on appeal of the Planning Commission's decision shall be final and conclusive. Notice of the City Council's decision shall be mailed to the applicant and shall include citation to California Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.6. Section Six: Definitions. In addition to the definitions contained in the City's Municipal Code, the following words and phrases shall, for the purposes of this Ordinance, be defined as follows, unless it is clearly apparent from the context that another meaning is intended. Should any of the definitions be in conflict with the current provisions of the City's Municipal Code, these definitions shall Drevail: a. "Adult Motion Picture Arcade" means any place to which the adult public is permitted or invited and where coin or slug operated or electronically, electrically or mechanically controlled amusement devices, still or motion picture machines, projectors or other image - producing devices are maintained to show images on a regular or substantial basis, where the images so displayed are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on depicting or describing "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas." b. "Adult Bookstore" shall mean an establishment that devotes more than 15% of the total floor area for the display of books and periodicals for the sale of the following: books, magazines, periodicals, or other LAX2:W992.1 -6- printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, tapes, records, or other forms of visual or audio representations which are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical instruments, devices or paraphernalia which are designed for the use in connection with specified sexual activities. An adult bookstore does not include an establishment that sells books or periodicals as an incidental or accessory part of its principal stock -in -trade and does not devote more than 15% of the total floor area of the establishment to the sale of adult only books and periodicals. C. "Adult Business" shall mean any business which, because minors are excluded by virtue of their age as a prevailing business practice, is not customarily open to the general public, including but not limited to, an adult arcade, adult book stores, adult theaters, adult cabaret, love parlor, massage parlor, model studio, nude studio, sexual catharsis center, sexual encounter shop, sexual novelty store or any other similar use wherein the preponderant business is the offering of services, materials and/or products which have as their dominant theme sexual arousal, sexual gratification and/or sexual stimulation of a customer. This definition does not apply, nor shall be interpreted to apply, to any business conducted, operated by or employing licensed chiropractors, licensed physicians, licensed physical therapists, licensed psychologists, licensed social workers or licensed marriage and family counsellors when performing functions under or pursuant to the respective license held. d. "Adult Cabaret" shall mean a nightclub, bar, theater, restaurant or similar establishment which regularly features live performances which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on specified sexual activities or by exposure of specified anatomical areas and/or which regularly features films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas for observation by patrons. e. "Adult Dance Studio" shall mean any establishment or business which provides for members of the public a LIM:164992.1 -7- partner for dance where the partner, or the dance, is distinguished or characterized by the emphasis on matter depicting, or describing or relating to "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas." f. "Adult Hotel/Motel" shall mean a hotel or motel or similar establishment offering public accommodations for any form of consideration which provide patrons with closed circuit televisions transmissions, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions which are distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" for observation by patrons. g. "Adult Motion Picture Theater" shall mean an establishment, with the capacity of 50 or more persons, where, for any form of consideration, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or similar photographic reproductions are shown, and in which a substantial portion of the total presentation time is devoted to the showing of material which is distinguished or characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas" for observation by patrons. h. "Figure Modeling Studio" shall mean any establishment or business which provides for members of the public, the services of a live human model for the purpose of reproducing the human body, wholly.or partially in the nude, by means of photograph, painting, sketching, drawing, or other pictorial form. i. "Material" relative to adult businesses shall mean and include, but not be limited to, accessories, books, magazines, photographs, prints, drawings, paintings, motion pictures, and pamphlets, or any combination thereof. j. "Massage Parlor" shall mean any establishment as defined in Section 5-1-13 of the Codified Ordinances of the County of Los Angeles as the same were adopted by the City.of Santa Clarita by Ordinance No. 96-33. k. "Specified Anatomical Areas" shall -mean: (1) less than completely and opaquely covered: (a) human genitals, pubic region; LAX2:164992.1 -8- (b) buttock, or, (c) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; or, (2) human male genital in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered. 1. "Specified Sexual Activities" shall mean: (1) the fondling or other touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus or female breasts; or, (2) sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including intercourse, oral copulation or sodomy; or, (3) masturbation, actual or simulated; or, (4) excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in 1 through 3. Section Seven: Severance If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it.would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Section Eight: Publication. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and cause the same to be published in the manner prescribed by law. Section Nine: UrgencvMeasure/Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be introduced, passed, and adopted at one and the same meeting as an urgency measure. As extension of the moratorium imposed by Ordinance No. 96-33, this Ordinance shall become effective.upon the expiration of Ordinance No. 96-33 on December 5, 1996 and shall continue in full force and effect unless amended or repealed for a period of ten (10) months and LAX2:164992.1 -9- 4 fifteen (15) days. The reasons for this urgency are declared and set forth in Paragraphs A -J and Sections 1-9, inclusive, of this Ordinance and same are incorporated herein by this reference. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of , 1996. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, George A. Caravalho, City Manager/City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. was duly introduced, passed, and adopted as an urgency ordinance at a regular meeting of the City Council on the _ day of , 1996, by the following roll -call vote, to wit: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: CITY CLERK LAX2:164992.1 -10-