The Village of Mahomet Board of Trustees is set to discuss a proposed ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses at its meeting on Feb. 11.
The ordinance aims to establish guidelines for such businesses to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of village residents. According to the draft ordinance, the regulations are designed to prevent potential negative secondary effects often associated with sexually oriented businesses, including crime, prostitution, and urban blight.
Village Administrator Patrick Brown emphasized that the ordinance is a proactive measure and not a response to any specific business interest.
“I wanted to be 100% clear that we have had zero interest from a business that prompted us to deal with this topic,” Brown stated in an email. “It was a goal of Village President Widener and staff to have an ordinance in place dealing with this type of business if it ever came up in the future.”
Brown explained that the timing of the ordinance is due to the complexity of the topic, which has been under consideration for approximately three years.
The proposed ordinance doesn’t prohibit sexually oriented businesses outright, as Brown notes such a ban would likely be unconstitutional. Instead, it focuses on regulating them in a uniform manner. The ordinance outlines definitions for various types of sexually oriented businesses, including adult bookstores, adult cabarets, and adult motion picture theaters. It also establishes licensing requirements, fees, and operational restrictions. Key aspects of the ordinance include:
- Licensing: Businesses and their employees would be required to obtain licenses from the Village.
- Fees: Initial license fees are set at $125 for businesses and $75 for employees, with annual renewal fees of $70 and $40, respectively.
- Hours of Operation: Businesses would be prohibited from operating between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
- Interior Regulations: Specific requirements are outlined for the interior configuration of businesses exhibiting sexually explicit films, including lighting, viewing room sizes, and visibility from operator stations.
- Prohibited Conduct: The ordinance prohibits nudity, specified sexual activities, and alcohol consumption on the premises. It also restricts employees appearing semi-nude unless they remain at least six feet from patrons and on a stage.
The ordinance proposal states, “It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate sexually oriented businesses in order to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the Village, and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent the deleterious secondary effects of sexually oriented businesses within the Village.”
