NoPornNorthampton provides this draft zoning law for public comment. Its intent is to reduce the adverse secondary effects of certain sexually oriented businesses on health, neighborhoods and commerce while respecting civil liberties.The proposed zoning law draws on similar laws put in place elsewhere in the US. These have been upheld in court as serving important […]
Ordinances and Regulations
NPN Releases a Draft Regulation for Health Inspector: Licenses for Viewing Booths in Adult Entertainment Establishments
NoPornNorthampton provides this draft health regulation for public comment. Its intent is to reduce high risk activity known to occur around porn shop viewing booths and combat diseases such as AIDS. It does not ban viewing booths, but only regulates them. This proposed regulation draws on similar regulations put in place elsewhere in the US. […]
US Court of Appeals Upholds Minneapolis Regulation of Porn Viewing Booths
In 1990, the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld “the constitutionality of a City of Minneapolis, Minnesota ordinance which: (1) prohibited the construction, use, design, or operation of a commercial building for the purpose of engaging in, or permitting persons to engage in, sexual activities which include high risk sexual conduct;[Footnote 3] […]
Law Article: “Preventing the Secondary Effects of Adult Entertainment Establishments: Is Zoning the Solution?”
Dana M. Tucker makes health, safety and economic arguments for regulating adult entertainment establishments in “Preventing the Secondary Effects of Adult Entertainment Establishments: Is Zoning the Solution?”, 12 Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law 383 (1997). The bracketed numbers refer to footnotes.Health impact of porn shops with viewing booths (pages 414-417)One of the adverse […]
Cleveland: Cameras Put in Viewing Booths To Deter Sexual Activity
June 11, 2005, as reported by WKYC, a Cleveland TV station: “Two years ago, unprotected male on male sex was running rampant in the back room video booths. “Channel 3 News was tipped off about the open sex by a local schoolteacher, who claimed her boyfriend told her he had unprotected sex with over 100 […]
Gazette: “Hadley’s fortified zoning foils effort to reopen ‘adult’ shop”
July 12: The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports, “A merchant’s attempt to run an adult video and magazine shop on Route 9 in the guise of an antique coin retailer has failed. “The venture was foiled by a town bylaw that prohibits adult stores from opening in the town’s commercial zone…. “‘I don’t think the town […]
Northampton Zoning Maps Show How Near Proposed Porn Shop is to Dense Residential Zones and the Central Business District
Although 135 King Street, the site of the proposed porn shop, is currently zoned for Highway Business, the reality is that it is next to densely populated “urban residential” zones and within a few blocks of the Central Business District. The proposed porn shop site is indicated by the yellow circle with a thumbtack in […]
Towns Across Massachusetts Use Zoning to Regulate Adult Businesses
A quick search of Google reveals how numerous towns and cities across Massachusetts are using zoning to regulate adult businesses. These towns recognize the harmful “secondary effects” that adult businesses often impose on their surroundings. Here is a sample:Fitchburg (PDF)Section 181.6: “It is the purpose of this section to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to […]
Building Commissioner: Why the Porn Shop Permit Was Denied
Anthony Patillo, Building Commissioner CBO of the City of Northampton, kindly wrote to NPN today to clarify what happened with the porn shop’s permit application: “The permit was denied because it requires additional permits from the city. Specifically the use prior was car dealership which required one space per 800 sq ft of floor area, […]
Porn Shop Building Permit Denied – City Requires Further Review for Proposal
On July 5, Northampton City Councilor Marilyn Richards (Ward 3) writes… I have created a list of those that have contacted me by email so that I may keep people up do date. I have been in touch with Councilor Maureen Carney (Ward 1) where the proposed shop is to be located. Below is her […]