Guilford P&Z Passes Regulations on Adult Entertainment Businesses

The Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission has passed regulations for adult entertainment facilities, the New Haven Register reports.

Although no adult entertainment facilities currently exist in the town, the regulations were passed by the town to be proactive.

The regulations passed in a 3-2-1 vote and will take effect on Oct. 10, the paper reports.

According to the Register, the regulations include prohibiting the sale of alcohol at these businesses and limiting the hours of operations from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The businesses cannot be located any closer than 1000 feet to a residence or residential zone and cannot be located within 1,500 feet of a similar business. The businesses cannot exceed a floor area of 10,000 square feet.

The town has been considering implementing regulations for a while as it was found that there were no zoning regulations that targeted adult-oriented facilities specifically. A first draft of such regulations was withdrawn due to concerns that the regulations would be placing limitations on speech and would violate First Amendment rights.

According to the Register, government can only place restrictions on the negative secondary effects caused by speech.

Commissioner Richard Bower told the paper he abstained from voting due to First Amendment concerns.

Read the full story at the New Haven Register.

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