Ansonia aldermen OK ordinance to limit adult businesses

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
Register Correspondent

ANSONIA >> The Board of Aldermen Tuesday took action geared to keep adult, or sexually-oriented businesses, from opening in areas where children, families and senior citizens congregate.

Aldermen unanimously approved a beefed-up ordinance that prohibits sexually-oriented businesses from operating within 1,000 feet of any town park, public building or recreation area, or within 500 feet of a residential zone.

The city already has an ordinance on its books that prohibits such establishments from operating within 1,000 feet of any church or school. According to its ordinance, an adult-oriented establishment is defined “as one offering sexual oriented entertainment,” such as books, magazines, videotapes, adult materials and devices used for sexual stimulation.

In addition to creating a buffer zone, the beefed-up ordinance creates “a regulatory scheme for any sexually-oriented business located outside of the prohibited zones,” according to Corporation Counsel John Marini. Businesses of this nature that do try to come into Ansonia would be required to maintain an annual license and pass inspections by the city building department, under the tougher laws.

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