FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Adult Entertainment Ban Extended a Year

A moratorium to prevent adult entertainment establishments from opening in the city was extended last week by the City Council until next February.

The council unanimously approved a 45-day urgency ordinance Feb. 15 to ban adult entertainment and related uses--a result of an inquiry to open a nude dance cabaret club in the city. But the moratorium will expire April 1, so the council extended the ban for an additional 10 months and 15 days, or a total of one year.

The council also has the option to extend the ban for another year, for total of 24 months, or two years.

“Basically, we need more time to evaluate the impact of such an enterprise on the city,” said Mayor John Collins. The moratorium will provide the city with time to study the issue and come up with appropriate development standards, officials said.

Officials said the city’s existing zoning code does not specifically address development standards for adult entertainment and uses, such as nude or topless bars. Lack of such standards poses a threat to the public health, safety or welfare since an adult business could create negative affects to the community, officials said.