(a) It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate adult oriented businesses, to promote the health, safety, moral and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Chardon and to establish reasonable and uniform regulations to prevent the concentration of adult oriented businesses within the City of Chardon. The provisions of this chapter have neither the purpose or effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of any communicative materials, including sexually oriented material protected by the First Amendment, or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of adult oriented entertainment to an adult market. There is convincing documented evidence that adult oriented business, because of their very nature, have a deleterious effect on both the existing business around them and the surrounding residential areas adjacent to them, causing increased crime and downgrading of property values.
(b) The Council of the City of Chardon desires to minimize and control these adverse effects and thereby preserve the property values and character of surrounding neighborhoods, deter the spread of blight, protect the citizens from increased crime, preserve the quality of life, and protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry.
(Ord. 1820. Passed 4-9-98.)