Agenda - Planning Commission - 10/22/1990

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PROPOSED 10/22/90 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION CITY OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA ADULT ENTERTAINMENT STUDY PROPOSED FINDINGS Having conducted its public hearing on the impact of aduk entertainment uses on adjacent areas and having considered the testimony and reports presented to it, the Commission hereby submits for consideration by the Common Council of the City of Ramsey, the following FINDINGS and CONCLUSIONS: FINDINGS: The community standards identified in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Ramsey include preserving the integrity and viability of residential areas; lessening congestion in the public right-of-ways; providing adequate lighting, privacy, and clean air; preventing the overcrowding of land; avoiding undue concentration of population; facilitating adequate provision of water, sewerage, schools, parks, and other public facilities; protecting residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional areas from the adverse impacts of adjoining developments; conserving the values of buildings; and encouraging the most appropriate use of land throughout the community. Among the goals identified in the City's Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan which are pertinent to the issue of adult entertainment uses are goals to provide for an attractive, comfortable, convenient, and efficient area for commercial and governmental activity, entertainment, relaxation and related uses; to foster and stimulate economically sound private development; to preserve the tax base and tax revenue generating capacity of the City; to prevent decay and deterioration of the City; to foster and stimulate economically sound private development consistent with the needs of the City; to develop a traffic circulation system which will reduce congestion and provide access into and out of the City in a convenient manner with minimum intrusion into heavy pedestrian areas; to enhance the aesthetic values of the City and maintain the natural beauty which exists; and to provide adequate public utilities and facilities to serve existing and proposed development. o As expressed in Minnesota Statutes, §617.291, it is the declared policy of this state to prevent commercial exposure of minors to sexually provocative written, photographic, printed, sound or published materials as defined therein which are deemed harmful to minors. 4 As expressed in Minnesota Statutes, §412.221, Subd. 12, the City Council shall have power to provide for the government and good order of the City, the suppression of vice and immorality, the prevention of crime, the protection of public and private property the benefit of residence, trade, and commerce, and the promotion of health, safety order convenience, and the general welfare by every ordinance not inconsistent with the constitution of the United States or of this state as it shall deem expedient. The City's Charter, Section 1.02 expressly grants these powers to the City. o Adult entertainment uses have an impact on the neighborhoods surrounding them which is distinct from the impact caused by other commercial uses. Residential neighborhoods located within close proximity to adult theaters, bookstores and other adult entertainment uses experience increased, crime rate (sex-related crimes in