Number
091671
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI
Title
An ordinance relating to definition of an adult retail establishment for zoning purposes.
Sections
295-201-15 am
295-203-5-n am
Analysis
Currently, the zoning code defines an “adult retail establishment” as an establishment in which 10 percent or more of the gross public floor area is devoted to adult materials or 10 percent or more of the stock-in-trade is adult materials. This ordinance reduces the threshold for classification of a business as an adult retail establishment from 10 percent of the gross public floor area or stock-in-trade to one percent.
Body
Whereas, Adult retail establishments are businesses in which a portion of the floor area or stock-in-trade is devoted to or consists of adult books, magazines, videos, CDs, DVDs and similar materials, which are characterized by an emphasis on matters depicting, describing or relating to sexual activities; and
Whereas, The Common Council finds that current zoning regulations, which allow up to 10 percent of a store’s floor area or stock-in-trade to be devoted to adult materials before the store is classified as an adult retail establishment, do not adequately protect the public health, safety and welfare of Milwaukee residents, particularly children, and may also negatively impact the character, reputation and -- ultimately - the desirability and economic viability of commercial districts in the city; and
Whereas, The Common Council finds that a more appropriate maximum amount of gross floor area or stock-in-trade that may be devoted to adult materials before an establishment is classified as an adult retail establishment is one percent; and
Whereas, The Common Council finds that the health, safety and welfare of Milwaukee citizens could be best promoted, and the economic viability of Milwaukee’s commercial districts best protected, by reducing the maximum percentage of gross floor area or stock-in-trade that may be de...
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