City Council members are considering imposing a moratorium on adult businesses after residents spoke out against an adult bookstore that opened in January then was later forced to close because it didn’t have proper permits.
At its Tuesday night meeting, the council asked city staffers to develop an emergency ordinance that would impose a moratorium on adult businesses while the council studies the possible impact of such establishments in the city.
The action comes after a hearing requested by Ben Ma, owner of Adult Super Store on Los Angeles Avenue, who was appealing a decision by the Planning Commission to reject his business permit application.
The council said that it needs to study the possible impact of the store on the neighborhood and took no official action on the appeal, agreeing instead to revisit the issue when staff members submit an emergency ordinance that would impose the moratorium immediately upon passage.
Council member Cynthia Sterling has said she wants homes be within 1,000 feet of the store to be considered before the city grants the owners a permit.
But, Bob Logan, a consultant for the store, said that there is no reason the store shouldn’t be allowed to open since it has met all the initial requirements to open shop.
