New adult business law now to Union Township board

Union Township planning commissioners recommended that the township
approve a new law controlling adult businesses at their Wednesday
meeting.

According to the suggested alterations, adult bookstores, video
stores and novelty shops would be allowed in many of the business
districts throughout Union Township.

“It is not illegal to have these businesses because it’s a freedom
of speech issue,” said Zoning Administrator Woody Woodruff. “We can
however, control the time, place and manner of these adult businesses.”

A new proposal was suggested after Intimate Ideas, 5275 E. Pickard
Ave., opened last year. The township was looking for a way to regulate
similar businesses that could move into the community.

Planning Commission Chairman Ken Schaeffer said after the board
talked to the East Downtown Development Authority in November,
discussions were made regarding the proposed law.

The discussion led to the final proposal requiring adult businesses
to be at least 600 feet from residential zones, 1,500 feet from each
other and need to be in open, well-lit areas.

“You don’t want these places hidden, you want them out in the light,
not back alleys,” Schaeffer said. “These new regulations are intended
to protect the community from adult business.”

The new proposal also would enforce adult businesses to be separated
from schools, parks, bars, churches and day care facilities.