PORT TOWNSEND — An ordinance regulating sexually oriented businesses in Jefferson County appears to be headed for approval next month after nearly seven years of delays.
Jefferson County commissioners have been considering the ordinance that would cover such businesses as strip clubs and sex novelty shops since March 2005, when nine moratoriums on such establishments going into business until county regulations were approved.
What could be a final public hearing on the final draft of the ordinance was scheduled on Monday for 10:15 a.m. March 12 when the three commissioners will consider final approval of the proposal.
That hearing is to be conducted before the commissioners in their chambers at the county courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., in Port Townsend.
“I would dearly love to see these moratoriums come to an end,” said county Commissioner Phil Johnson who pointed out that the ordinance would allow such businesses in more than one place in the county.
County Associate Planner David Wayne Johnson, who has taken the lead on the developing the ordinance for the county Department of Community Development, said such businesses would be allowed in areas zoned for rural village centers, convenience centers, crossroad centers and light industrial zones.
Both Quilcene and Brinnon are zoned as rural village centers and Glen Cove Industrial Park south of Port Townsend is a light industrial zone.
All are areas where sexually-oriented businesses could be established under the law.
Commissioner Johnson said it “seemed odd” that such businesses would be allowed to be “scattered” around the county.
Planner Johnson said the county had to zone sexually-oriented businesses in more than one location because otherwise, the action could be interpreted as creating a “red light district” and construed as unconstitutional.
County Administrator Philip Morley said if all goes well there will be no need to extend the moratorium once again.
“I am pleased to see we are getting to this point, quite frankly,” said county Commissioner David Sullivan.
Some of the ordinance borrows from the city of Port Townsend law that was adopted seven years ago and allows such businesses in the downtown historic district.
As proposed, the ordinance requires that adult businesses be 1,000 feet away from churches and schools.
The county sheriff would administer licensing and the county hearing examiner would hear any appeals of license denials, Morley said.
Johnson said the sheriff’s office must take a role in review of applications for adult-oriented because of the fear that such businesses could be fronts for organized crime, including money laundering and prostitution.
The county first discussed an adult business ordinance in early May 2005, but the matter fell by the wayside, with other issues taking priority.
There is no county adult business law now in place.
“We think that this is a good final cut for the code for the licensing,” planner Johnson said.
“I think we can get this all done and have the public hearing” before the moratorium expires.
The latest moratorium expires April 24.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
