More time to comment on adult biz zoning

If people have issues on the proposed zoning program for adult businesses on island, they are being given extra time to speak up.

Zoning board administrator Steve Tilley said the agency has decided to extend the public comment period on the proposed adult business legislation to Oct. 27.

The original deadline was set last month.

“We want to get more comments from the general public, not just the business sector. We wanted to make sure that we’re hearing it. If any members of the public are interested in this then we want to hear from them also,” said Tilley.

The board had held a public hearing on the proposal last month at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.

Tilley said that that particular gathering was attended mainly by businesses, including the landowners of the existing adult businesses, who naturally registered their opposition to the plan.

“It was mostly businesses so they were not in favor [of the zoning plan],” said Tilley.

He said the board will hold three more meetings on Saipan, including the one which was set last night at the San Antonio Youth Center. Tonight, the zoning board will conduct the same meeting at Garapan Central Park at 7pm. Tomorrow night, the board will hold the meeting at the Tanapag Community Center at 7pm.

Tilley said there is no set meeting in Kagman because “we’re not aware of any adult business” operating in the area.

Kagman residents, however, can freely attend either of the remaining schedules or submit their comments to the board until Oct. 27.

The proposed amendments define two new types of adult business zones: overlay parks and business park.

New adult businesses would only be allowed to locate within these zones while existing adult businesses outside the two zones would be considered “nonconforming users.”

As nonconforming establishments, they would be asked to stop operations within one year unless an extension is approved.

Adult businesses include adult arcades, adult cabarets, adult motels, adult motion picture theaters, adult theaters, escort agencies, massage parlors, nude model studios, sex shops, and sexual encounter centers.

The proposed legislation would be enacted by the Saipan Local Delegation as an amendment to the Saipan Zoning law.

Based on the draft, one or more adult business zones may be setup on Saipan, within which the businesses should be separated from each other and from sensitive locations such as churches, residences, parks, schools attended by minors, and places where minors congregate.

The Zoning Board also seeks to establish rules for managing the outdoor activities and appearance of adult businesses. The board says that signs for adult businesses should not advertise specified sexual activities, and any labels should always be in English.

Adult businesses should also be designed so that the merchandise and activities cannot be seen from outside.

Several problems, including aggressive solicitation of patrons, explicit signage, and the placement of adult merchandise in view of minors, have been associated with adult businesses on Saipan.

The Zoning Board consists of chair Henry Hofschneider, vice chair Rexford Kosack, Herminia Fusco, David Igitol, Isidoro Cabrera, and Elizabeth D. Rechebei .