(A) Intent. The purpose of these adult use standards is to establish specific requirements for adult uses that both ensure the viability of speech activities protected by the U.S. Constitution and prevent the land use conflicts that result from the secondary affects of the presence of such uses.
(B) General adult use standards apply to the General Industrial zoning district(s). Hancock County is aware of, and is relying on information gathered by other communities such as Indianapolis, Indiana; New York, New York; Tucson, Arizona, Seattle, Washington; Austin, Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Houston, Texas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Phoenix, Arizona that demonstrates that adult uses are distinguishable from other business uses due to their negative impacts on the general welfare of neighboring portions of the community. Those negative impacts include increased crime, blight, and deprivation of property values. It has been recognized that local governments have a special concern in regulating adult uses to ensure that the adverse effects will be minimized and not contribute to land use conflicts and the blighting of adjacent areas. It has been determined by the United States Supreme Court that local communities may demonstrate this concern by, after careful review of factual information, regulating the time, place, and manner in which adult uses occur. The intent of this section is to preserve the character and integrity of residential neighborhoods, to deter the spread of blight, and to protect minors from the objectionable characteristics of adult uses. Further, it is the intent of this section to minimize the level to which any particular commercial area is exposed to the secondary affects of adult businesses by discouraging the development of districts of such uses.
(1) Permitted use. Adult uses shall be permitted by special exception only in the IG - Industrial: General zoning district.
(2) Separation requirements. Adult uses shall be located a minimum of 1,000 feet from any church, school, park, day care facility, residentially zoned area, public or cultural facility (such as city hall, libraries, etc.), or any other adult use. The distance shall be measured in a straight line, without regard to intervening structures or objects, from the closest property lines of the lot on which each use is located.
(Ord. 2007-1B, passed 2-5-07)