CRM, Zoning team up to inspect adult biz

The Zoning Board and the Coastal Resource Management Office established this week a partnership to perform site surveys and inspections to see whether so-called adult business establishments on Saipan are complying with the zoning law.

The law requires adult businesses to meet new signage and outdoor appearance standards, which came into effect in Aug. 1, 2007.

This is the first time such a team-up between CRM and the Zoning office has been established.

Dr. Elizabeth Rechebei, acting chairwoman of the Zoning Board, said the goal is to create a family and tourist-friendly atmosphere in the business district of Saipan.

She said putting up the right signs would help a lot in this effort.

She said that so-called adult signs only hurt Saipan.

CRM and Zoning staff will be visiting adult businesses in the coming weeks. The staff will identify what changes the adult businesses need to undertake to comply with the law.

The Board said business owners would have the opportunity to review findings and make voluntary changes to signs and other outdoor aspects of their businesses.

The Board warned that if no changes are made, they will have to consider taking enforcement action, including fines or court action.

“You can see how important this is—it is a joint agency project. We are grateful for the support which Dr. [John] Joyner and his CRM team have offered to assist in enforcing these standards,” Rechebei said.

To help business owners better understand how the law affects them, the Zoning Office prepared a fact sheet, which is available at the Zoning office located at 2nd floor of Dandan Building or at its Web site: www.zoning.mp.gov.

The so-called adult businesses include many types: adult cabaret, adult motel, adult motion picture theater, adult theater, escort agency, massage parlor, nude model studio, sex shop and sexual encounter center.

The Zoning Office stressed, however, that not all massage parlors are defined as adult businesses.

It said that professionally licensed or certified businesses, which offer legitimate techniques of physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapist, or athletic trainers are not considered adult businesses.

There is also exemption to the law.

The Zoning office clarified that massage facilities in hotels that have more that 20 rooms are exempted from the Saipan Zoning Law.

“There are also other factors which may affect the definition of an adult business,” acting Zoning administrator Therese Ogumoro said.

She is requesting adult business owners to contact their office for help in identifying several requirements for outdoor appearance and signs of their establishments.