Date: Mon 02-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

x-rated-porn-ordinance

Full Text:

Town Weighs Ordinance To Regulate Adult-Oriented Shops

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

First Selectman Bob Cascella wants to make sure Newtown doesn't run into the

same problem currently being faced in Monroe, where an X-rated shop has

opened, sending shock-waves through the community.

Sure, some of Newtown's video stores sell pornographic videos, but those are

not the kinds of stores the first selectman is worried about. He wants to keep

a tight squeeze on the kind of shops that provide "peep shows," and has asked

the Legislative Council to create an anti-porn ordinance.

"The last thing I want to see in our town is smut. There's no place in this

town for that," he said.

Monroe recently passed an anti-porn ordinance that would help control the

operation of X-rated shops, but it wasn't until after the adult entertainment

shop had moved in. The existing shop is not bound by the ordinance.

Mr Cascella has passed on a copy of Monroe's adult oriented establishment

ordinance to both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the town's ordinance

committee for review.

"These types of businesses have been established in both Trumbull and Monroe.

Unfortunately, they had no regulations or ordinances on the books to keep them

out," Mr Cascella said.

Even with an ordinance, however, it is very difficult to keep porn shops out

under the United States Constitution's First Amendment freedom of speech

provisions, according to Town Attorney David Grogins.

"You can't strictly prohibit it, but you can regulate it," he said.

It is also hard to define pornography. As a Supreme Court Justice once

quipped, "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it."

Monroe's ordinance does not prohibit the X-rated shops, but it does put

serious limitations on their operation, restricting them from moving in near

schools and residential areas.

The first selectman said an ordinance has more power to keep certain

establishments out than do P&Z regulations.

Ordinance Committee Chairman Bill Brimmer said that though it is difficult to

keep the porn business out of town, it can still be controlled.

"If you're going to allow it, then you have to have some rules," he said.

Mr Brimmer said his committee will work on the ordinance this summer.

Mr Grogins suggested that both the ordinance committee and the Planning &

Zoning Commission work closely together on this issue. He said the town must

be careful that P&Z issues aren't included in the ordinance.

"We want to make sure the Legislative Council doesn't act as the Planning &

Zoning Commission," he said.

As he pointed out, the P&Z deals more with where a business can be located,

while an ordinance addresses how it will operate.

The ordinance committee is scheduled to meet again in June.