Adult use

study

continues

Workshop set

for Feb. 6

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NICOLLET -- The Nicollet City Council reviewed the fourth installment of the Adult Use Interim Study Wednesday night.

The study is in response to the opening of The Mirage adult entertainment night club last fall in a former boat factory building.

Over the past few months, the council has been on a fact-finding mission, reviewing legal issues and secondary effects reports from other Minnesota cities dealing with adult use establishments.

City Administrator Dan Wietecha handed out a reference overview of secondary effects reports, a city zoning map and sample ordinances from New Brighton, Rochester and St. Paul.

The map demonstrated sites that would be available with a 500-foot distance from residentially-zoned property. The map was intended to initiate discussion on appropriate distance requirements.

Wietecha said a general theme in his research, local testimony, and council discussion has been an increase in crime (particularly sexual crimes), blighting effect on neighborhoods, and a decline in neighboring property values (particularly residential property).

"As seen in the reports as well as case law, many cities use zoning regulations to distance adult uses from particularly susceptible neighbors like residences, schools, churches, day-care establishments, and parks," Wietecha said. "Zoning is an appropriate use of the city's police power, but the city cannot simply zone adult uses entirely out of the city. Such businesses must be afforded reasonable alternative locations. This concept will be reviewed in more detail later."

This is the start of the legislative phase -- writing appropriate ordinances, Wietecha said.

He recommended the council meet for a workshop open to the public on the issue in the near future. The council responded by scheduling a workshop for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6 at City Hall.

The council's Adult Use Moratorium Ordinance will expire March 27. The council can extend the moratorium for an additional 6-12 months.

The council also:

* Learned that the Mara Tonka Townhouses would be rented by September. Favorable bids were received with CBS Construction of Brooklyn Center the apparent low bidder. Project financial and legal ground work is under way.

* Learned that the Highway 14 Partnership plans to increase political and grass-roots pressure on the Minnesota Department of Transportation and seeks to recruit more business affiliate members, particularly shippers.

* Approved upgrading the Cabin Bar's and Nicollet Conservation Club's bar bingo permit from Class B to Class A, allowing bingo on a weekly basis.

* Appointed Dwayne Pipping, Rhonda Ganger and John Hornung as new Economic Development Association members.