2005/06/15 Council Agenda Packet

App. B / Adult Businesses nesses, communities should adopt zoning regulations which set distance requirements between sexually ori- ented businesses and sensitive uses, including but not limited to residential areas, schools, child care facilities, churches and parks. (10) To reduce adverse impacts from concentration of these businesses, communities should adopt zoning ordi- nances which set distances between sexually oriented businesses and between sexually oriented businesses and liquor establishments, and should consider restricting sexually oriented businesses to one use per building. (11) Communities should require existing businesses to com- ply with new zoning or other regulation of sexually oriented businesses within a reasonable time so that prior uses will conform to new laws. (12) Prior to enacting licensing regulations, communities should document findings of adverse secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses and the relationship be- tween these effects and proposed regulations so that such regulations can be upheld if challenged in court. (13) Communities should adopt regulations which reduce the likelihood of criminal activity related to sexually ori- ented businesses, including but not limited to open booth ordinances and ordinances which authorize denial or revocation of licenses when the licensee has committed offenses relevant to the operation of the business. (14) Communities should adopt regulations which reduce exposure of the community and minors to the blighting appearance of sexually oriented businesses, including but not limited to regulations of signage and exterior design of such businesses, and should enforce state law requiring sealed wrappers and opaque covers on sexually oriented material. Minnesota Attorney General's Report / App. B impacts of Sexually Oriented Businesses The Working Group reviewed evidence from studies con- ducted in Minneapolis and St. Paul and in other cities throughout the country. These studies, taken together, pro- vide compelling evidence that sexually oriented businesses are associated with high crime rates and depression of prop- erty values. In addition, the Working Group heard testimony that the character of a neighborhood can dramatically change when there is a concentration of sexually oriented businesses adjacent to residential property. Minneapolis Study In 1980, on direction from the Minneapolis City Council, the Minneapolis Crime Prevention Center examined the effects of oex-oriented and alcohol -oriented adult entertain- ment upon property values and crime rates. This study used both simple regression and multiple regression statistical analysis to evaluate whether there was a causal relationship between these businesses and neighborhood blight. The study concluded that there was a close association between sexually oriented businesses, high crime rates and low housing values in a neighborhood. When the data was reexamined using control variables such as the mean income in the neighborhood to determine whether the association proved causation, it was unclear whether sexually oriented businesses caused a decline in property values. The Minnea- polis study concluded that sexually oriented businesses con- centrate in areas which are relatively deteriorated and, at most, they may weakly contribute to the continued depres- sion of property values. However, the Minneapolis study found a much stronger relationship between sexually oriented businesses and crime rates. A crime index was constructed including robbery, burglary, rape and assault. The rate of crime in areas near sexually oriented businesses was then compared to crime 382 ',83 M N O 0 w w