Assembly may expand adult entertainment law

October 28, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Pornography, strippers and other forms of adult entertainment are scheduled topics for public hearing Tuesday at the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting.

The assembly will consider an ordinance that would expand the borough's current code regulating adult businesses to include areas outside the Palmer-Wasilla core area and clarify definitions of what an adult business is.

&#8220Some people are afraid that this is an assault on adult businesses,” assembly member Betty Vehrs said. &#8220That is not the case. All this ordinance will do is put businesses outside the core area under the same regulations of those within the area.”

Increased concerns from residents - especially those in the Meadow Lakes area, which used to be the home of the borough's two largest adult entertainment businesses - led to the introduction of the ordinance.

&#8220Many people have voiced to me that they fear the presence of unregulated strip clubs in their neighborhood may have a harmful effect on minors, property values and the overall quality of life,” Vehrs said. &#8220This is something that the people in my district have been wanting for over two years. The residents have seen what can happen and how adult businesses can pop up in their back yard. They wanted to see something that would at least make them aware of when and where any new businesses are being established.”

The borough adopted the Core Area Comprehensive Plan in 1994, establishing regulations for adult businesses in the core area outside the cities of Palmer and Wasilla, which have their own standards. But the plan did not address businesses outside the population center of the borough.

Vehrs said that when the Borealis Beach Club eliminated exotic dancers from its entertainment menu, most of the dancers began to work at the Valley Showgirls Club in the Meadow Lakes area and brought with them some of the problems associated with adult entertainment.

&#8220Watching the police blotter and state trooper reports, I've noticed more incidents happening near Valley Showgirls,” she said. &#8220There was a report of a stabbing last week. Problems like that is what generated my constituents to mandate the expansion of the regulations.”

In addition to expanding the areas covered, a couple of proposed modifications to the existing ordinance were made at the recommendation of the borough attorney's office, including the addition of a specific time-frame for processing conditional-use permits, an annual review process that allows for in-house review and public input and a reduction in the minimum age of operators, managers, employees and patrons from 21 to 18, the age of majority in the state.

The state fire marshal must also approve interior and exterior site plans of any new businesses as well.

Anchorage attorney Peter Gamache, who represents the Valley Showgirls Club, Mile 51 Parks Hwy., views the ordinance as an attempt to place a new set of restrictions on an existing business.

&#8220It's a lot of smoke for such a small flame,” Gamache said. &#8220The Valley Showgirls Club is the only adult business I'm aware of in the area, so the whole thing makes me pretty suspicious that they would draft an ordinance to address a single establishment.

&#8220When push comes to shove, even the best sleight of hand by drafting an ordinance can make a new set of ordinances that will apply to an existing business,” Gamache continued.

&#8220They call them grandfather rights for a reason and the Valley Showgirls Club has them.”

Vehrs emphasized that the ordinance is not designed to eliminate or even prevent adult businesses from operating in the borough. Instead, the requirement of the conditional-use permit and notification of the community councils will give the people who live near these establishments a chance to address some concerns.

&#8220We don't want to put them out of business. We are trying to make sure that they won't have a negative impact on the community. The goal is to ensure that the businesses are good neighbors.”

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.