(A) The City of Waverly, Minnesota (“city”) makes the following findings regarding the impacts or “secondary effects” of sexually oriented businesses and the sale, distribution, and display of sexually oriented materials (collectively, “Sexually Oriented Business Activities”) on the areas in which such Activities are located or take place. The findings are based upon the experiences of other cities where such businesses have located.
(B) Sexually oriented business activities can cause or contribute significantly to increases in criminal activity in the areas in which they are located or take place, thereby taxing crime prevention, law enforcement, and public health services.
(C) Nude dancing and other similar conduct provided by sexually oriented business activities encourages prostitution, increases the frequency of sexual assaults, attracts or encourages other related criminal activity, increases the public health and safety risks associated with sexually oriented business activities, and otherwise causes or contributes significantly to the adverse impacts and secondary effects of sexually oriented business activities on the areas in which such activities are located, or take place.
(D) Sexually oriented business activities can cause or contribute significantly to the deterioration of residential neighborhoods, can impair the character and quality of such neighborhoods and the housing located therein, and can inhibit the proper maintenance and growth of such neighborhoods, limiting or reducing the availability of quality, affordable housing for area residents and reducing the value of property in such areas.
(E) Sexually oriented business activities can undermine the stability of other established business and commercial uses in the areas in which sexually oriented business activities are located or take place and cause or contribute significantly to the deterioration of such other business and commercial uses, thereby causing or contributing to a decline in such uses, an inhibition on business and commercial growth, and a resulting adverse impact on local government revenues and property values.
(F) Sexually oriented business activities can have a dehumanizing and distracting influence on young people and students attending schools, can diminish or destroy the enjoyment and family atmosphere of person using parks, playgrounds, forest preserves, and other public recreational areas, can interfere with or even destroy the spiritual experience of persons attending church, synagogue, or other places of worship, and can interfere with or even destroy the opportunity for solemn and respectful contemplation at cemeteries and similar facilities.
(G) The presence of sexually oriented business activities is perceived by the public generally and by neighboring business owners and residents as an indication that the area in which such activities occur or take place is in decline and deteriorating, a perception that can quickly lead to such decline and deterioration, prompting businesses and residents to flee the affected area to avoid the consequences of such decline and deterioration.
(H) The exterior appearance, including signage, of sexually oriented business activities can have an adverse impact on young people and students, can contribute to the decline in property values associated with sexually oriented business activities, and can otherwise cause or contribute significantly to the adverse impacts and secondary effects of sexually oriented business activities on the areas in which such activities are located or take place.
(Ord. 2002-08, passed 8-13-02)