[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Millersville 7-25-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-7.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate
sexually oriented businesses to promote the health, safety and general
welfare of the citizens of the Borough and to establish reasonable
and uniform regulations to prevent the continued deleterious location
and concentration of sexually oriented businesses within the Borough.
The provisions of this section have neither the purpose nor effect
of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of any communicative
materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is
not the intent nor effect of this section to restrict or deny access
by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment
or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually oriented
entertainment to their intended market. Neither is it the intent nor
effect of this section to condone or legitimize the distribution of
obscene material.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein
coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically or
mechanically controlled still- or motion-picture machines, projectors
or other image-producing devices are maintained to show images to
five or fewer persons per machine at any one time and where the images
so displayed are distinguished or characterized by the depicting or
describing of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical
areas.
A commercial establishment which, as one of its principal
business purposes, offers for sale or rental, for any form of consideration,
any one of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed
matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, videocassettes or
video reproductions, slides or other visual representations which
depict or describe specified sexual activities or specified anatomical
areas, or instruments, devices or paraphernalia which are designed
for use in connection with specified sexual activities. A commercial
establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not
involve the offering for sale or rental of material depicting or describing
specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas and still
be categorized as an adult bookstore or adult video store. Such other
business purposes will not serve to exempt such commercial establishment
from being categorized as an adult bookstore or adult video store
so long as one of its principal business purposes is the offering
for sale or rental for consideration of the specified materials which
depict or describe specified sexual activities or specified anatomical
areas.
A nightclub, bar, restaurant or similar commercial establishment
which regularly features persons who appear in the state of nudity;
live performances which are characterized by the exposure of specified
sexual activities or specified anatomical areas; or films, motion
pictures, videocassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions
which are characterized by the depiction or description of specified
sexual activities or specified anatomical areas.
A hotel, motel or similar commercial establishment which:
Offers accommodations to the public for any
form of consideration; provides patrons with closed-circuit television
transmissions, films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides or other
photographic reproductions which are characterized by the depiction
or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical
areas; and has a sign visible from the public right-of-way which advertises
the availability of this adult type of photographic reproductions.
Offers sleeping rooms for rent four or more
times in one calendar day during five or more calendar days in any
continuous thirty-day period.
A commercial establishment in which, for any form of consideration,
films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides or similar photographic
reproductions are regularly shown which are characterized by the depiction
or description of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical
areas.
A theater, concert hall, auditorium or similar commercial
establishment which regularly features persons who appear in a state
of nudity or live performances which are characterized by the exposure
of specified anatomical areas or specified sexual activities.
The Borough of Millersville.
A person who, for consideration, agrees or offers to act
as a companion, guide or date for another person or who agrees or
offers to privately model lingerie or to privately perform a striptease
for another person.
A person or business association who or which furnishes,
offers to furnish or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its primary
business purposes for a fee, tip or other consideration.
Any place where a person who appears in a state of nudity
or displays specified anatomical areas is provided to be observed,
sketched, drawn, painted, sculpted, photographed or similarly depicted
by other persons who pay money or any form of consideration.
The appearance of a human bare buttock, anus, male genitals,
female genitals or female breast.
A person in whose name a permit and/or license to operate
a sexually oriented business has been issued, as well as the individual
listed as an applicant on the application for a permit and/or license.
An individual, proprietorship, partnership, corporation,
association or other legal entity.
A state of dress in which clothing covers no more than the
genitals, pubic region and areola of the female breast, as well as
portions of the body covered by supporting straps or devices.
A business or commercial enterprise that, as one of its primary
business purposes, offers, for any form of consideration:
An adult arcade, adult bookstore or adult video store, adult
cabaret, adult motel, adult motion-picture theater, adult theater,
escort agency, nude model studio or sexual encounter center.
The male genitals in a state of sexual arousal and/or the
vulva or more intimate parts of the female genitals.
Includes any of the following:
The increase in floor area occupied by the business by more
than 25%, as the floor area exists on the date of enactment of this
chapter.
Includes any of the following:
The sale, lease or sublease of the business.
The transfer of securities which constitute
a controlling interest in the business, whether by sale, exchange
or similar means.
The establishment of a trust, gift or other
similar legal device which transfers the ownership or control of the
business, except for transfer by bequest or other operation of law
upon the death of the person possessing the ownership or control.
A.
Any person who operates a sexually oriented business
without a valid permit issued by the Borough is guilty of a violation
of this chapter.
B.
An application for a permit to operate a sexually
oriented businesses must be made on a form provided by the Code Enforcement
Officer of the Borough. The application must be accompanied by a sketch
or diagram showing the floor plan and plot plan configuration of the
premises, including a statement of total floor space occupied by the
business. The sketch or diagram need not be professionally prepared
but must be drawn to a designated scale or drawn with marked dimensions
of the interior of the premises to an accuracy of plus or minus six
inches.
C.
The applicant must be qualified according to the provisions
of this chapter and the premises must be inspected and found to be
in compliance with the law by the Code Enforcement Officer and the
Fire Marshal.
D.
If a person who wishes to operate a sexually oriented
business is an individual, he must sign the application for a permit
as applicant. If a person who wishes to operate a sexually oriented
business is other than an individual, each individual who has a ten-percent
or greater interest in the business must sign the application for
a permit as applicant. If a corporation is listed as owner of a sexually
oriented business or as the entity which wishes to operate such business,
each individual having a direct or indirect interest of 10% or greater
in the corporation must sign the application for a permit as applicant.
E.
The fact that a person possesses other types of Borough
permits does not exempt the person from the requirement of obtaining
a sexually oriented business permit.
A.
The Borough Code Enforcement Officer shall approve
the issuance of a permit to an applicant within 30 days after receipt
of an application unless he finds one or more of the following to
be true:
(1)
An applicant is under 18 years of age.
(2)
An applicant or applicant's spouse is overdue in his
payment to the Borough of taxes, fees, fines or penalties assessed
against him or imposed upon him in relation to a sexually oriented
business.
(3)
An applicant has failed to provide information reasonably
necessary for issuance of the permit or has falsely answered a question
or request for information on the application form.
(4)
An applicant is residing with a person who has been
denied a permit by the Borough to operate a sexually oriented business
within the preceding 12 months or residing with a person whose license
to operate a sexually oriented business has been revoked within the
preceding 12 months.
(5)
The premises to be used for the sexually oriented
business has been reviewed and has been disapproved by either the
Code Enforcement Officer or the Fire Marshal as not being in compliance
with applicable laws and ordinances.
(6)
The permit fee required by this chapter has not been
paid.
(7)
An applicant of the proposed establishment is in violation
of or is not in compliance with any of the provisions of this chapter.
(8)
An individual applicant or any individual holding
a direct or indirect interest of more than 10% of a corporate applicant;
or any of the officers and directors of a corporate applicant, if
the applicant is a corporation; or any of the partners, including
limited partners, if the applicant is a partnership; or the manager
or other person in charge of the operation of the applicant's business
has or have been convicted of an offense involving sexual misconduct
within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including but not limited
to prostitution, obscenity and possession of child pornography, or
convicted of any offense in any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania that would have constituted an offense involving sexual
misconduct if committed within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In
order for approval to be denied pursuant to this subsection, the person's
or persons' conviction or release in connection with the sexual misconduct
offense must have occurred within two years of the date of application
in the event of a misdemeanor and within five years of the date of
application in the event of a felony.
B.
The permit, if granted, shall state on its face the
name of the person or persons to whom it is granted, the expiration
date and the address of the sexually oriented business. The permit
shall be posted in a conspicuous place at or near the entrance to
the sexually oriented business so that it may be easily read at any
time.
C.
The Code Enforcement Officer and Fire Chief shall
complete their certification that the premises is in compliance or
not in compliance within 20 days of receipt of the application by
the Code Enforcement Officer. The certification shall be promptly
presented to the Code Enforcement Officer.
The annual fee for a sexually oriented business
permit is to be established from time to time by resolution of the
Borough Council.[1]
A.
An applicant or permittee shall permit representatives
of the Police Department, Fire Marshal, Code Enforcement Officer or
other Borough departments or agencies to inspect the premises of a
sexually oriented business for the purpose of ensuring compliance
with the law at any time that the sexually oriented business is occupied
or open for business.
B.
A person who operates a sexually oriented business
or his agent or employee violates this chapter if he refuses to permit
such lawful inspection of the premises at any time it is occupied
or open for business.
A.
Each permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance and may be renewed only by making application as provided in § 106-3. Applications for renewal should be made at least 30 days before the expiration date; and when made less than 30 days before the expiration date, the pendency of the application will not prevent the expiration of the permit.
B.
If the Borough Code Enforcement Officer denies renewal
of a license, the applicant shall not be issued a permit for one year
from the date of denial, except that, after 90 days have elapsed since
the date of denial, the applicant may be granted a permit if the Code
Enforcement Officer finds that the basis for denial of the renewal
permit has been corrected or abated.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall suspend a
permit for a period not to exceed 30 days if he determines that a
permittee or an employee of a permittee has:
A.
Violated or is not in compliance with any section
of this chapter.
B.
Engaged in excessive use of alcoholic beverages while
on the sexually oriented business premises.
C.
Refused to allow an inspection of the sexually oriented
business premises as authorized by this chapter.
D.
Knowingly permitted gambling by any person on the
sexually oriented business premises.
A.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke a permit if a cause of suspension set forth in § 106-8 occurs and the permit has been suspended within the preceding 12 months.
B.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke a permit
if he determines that:
(2)
A permittee gave false or misleading information in
the material submitted to the Borough during the application process.
(3)
A permittee or an employee of a permittee has knowingly
allowed possession, use or sale of controlled substances on the premises.
(4)
A permittee or an employee of a permittee has knowingly
allowed prostitution on the premises.
(5)
A permittee or an employee of a permittee knowingly
operated the sexually oriented business during a period of time when
the permittee's permit was suspended.
(6)
A permittee or an employee of a permittee has knowingly
allowed any act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, masturbation
or other explicit sexual conduct to occur in or on the permitted premises.
(7)
A permittee is delinquent in payment to the Borough
or state of any taxes or fees relating to sexually oriented businesses.
C.
When the Code Enforcement Officer revokes a permit, the revocation shall continue for one year, and the permittee shall not be issued a sexually oriented business permit for one year from the date revocation became effective; except that, if the revocation is pursuant to Subsection B(1) above, the revocation shall be effective for two years in the event of a misdemeanor or five years in the case of a felony.
D.
After denial of an application or denial of a renewal
of an application or suspension or revocation of a permit, the applicant
or licensee or permittee shall have the right to appeal said action
and to seek prompt judicial review of such administrative action in
any court of competent jurisdiction.
A permittee shall not transfer his permit to
another person. A permittee shall not operate a sexually oriented
business under the authority of a permit at any place other than the
address designated in the application.
A.
A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually
oriented business, other than an adult motel, which exhibits on the
premises, in a viewing room of less than 150 square feet of floor
space, a film or videocassette or other video or other image production
or reproduction which depicts specified sexual activities or specified
anatomical areas shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
The application for a permit to operate a sexually
oriented business shall be accompanied by a floor plan thereof specifying
the location of one or more manager's stations, the location of all
viewing rooms, partitions and doors and the location of all overhead
lighting fixtures and designating any portion of the premises in which
patrons will not be permitted. A manager's station may not exceed
32 square feet of floor area. The diagram shall also designate the
place at which the permit will be conspicuously posted, if granted.
A professionally prepared diagram in the nature of an engineer's or
architect's blueprint shall not be required; however, each diagram
should be oriented to the north or to some designated street or object
and should be drawn to a designated scale or with marked dimensions
of all areas of the interior of the premises to an accuracy of plus
or minus six inches. The Zoning Officer may waive the foregoing diagram
for renewal applications if the applicant adopts a diagram that was
previously submitted and certifies that the configuration of the premises
has not been altered since it was prepared.
(2)
The application shall be sworn to be true and correct
by the applicant.
(3)
No alteration in the configuration or location of
a manager's station may be made without the prior approval of the
Zoning Officer or his designee.
(4)
It is the duty of the owners and operators of the
premises to ensure that at least one employee is on duty and situated
in each manager's station at all times that any patron is present
inside the premises.
(5)
The interior of the premises shall be configured in
such a manner that there is an unobstructed view from a manager's
station of every area of the premises to which any patron is permitted
access for any purpose, excluding rest rooms. Rest rooms may not contain
video reproduction or viewing equipment. If the premises has two or
more manager's stations designated, then the interior of the premises
shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed
view of each area of the premises to which any patron is permitted
access for any purpose from at least one of the manager's stations.
The view required in this subsection must be by direct line of sight
from the manager's station.
(6)
It shall be the duty of the owners and operators, and it shall also be the duty of any agents and employees present on the premises, to ensure that the view area specified in Subsection A(5) remains unobstructed by any doors, walls, merchandise, display racks or other materials at all times and to ensure that no patron is permitted access to any area of the premises which has been designated as an area in which patrons will not be permitted in the application filed pursuant to Subsection A(1) of this section.
(7)
No view room may be occupied by more than one person
at any time. No connections or openings to an adjoining viewing room
shall be permitted.
(8)
The premises shall be equipped with overhead lighting
fixtures of sufficient intensity to illuminate every place to which
patrons are permitted access at an illumination of not less than one
footcandle, as measured at the floor level.
(9)
It shall be the duty of the owners and operators and
it shall also be the duty of any agents and employees present in the
premises to ensure that the illumination described above is maintained
at all times that any patron is present in the premises.
It is a defense to prosecution under § 106-3 and § 380-34A(1) of Chapter 380, Zoning, that a person appearing in a state of nudity did so in a modeling class operated:
A.
By a proprietary school, licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, or a college, junior college or university supported
entirely or partly by taxation.
B.
By a private college or university which maintains
and operates educational programs in which credits are transferable
to a college, junior college or university supported entirely or partly
by taxation.
C.
In a structure:
(1)
Which has no sign visible from the exterior of the
structure and no other advertising that indicates a nude person is
available for viewing.
(2)
Where, in order to participate in a class, a student
must enroll at least three days in advance of the class.
(3)
Where no more than one nude model is on the premises
at any one time.
A person who operates or causes to be operated
a sexually oriented business without a valid permit or in violation
of this chapter is subject to an action in equity or a suit for injunction
as well as actions for violations of this chapter.
Operation of a sexually oriented business without
a valid permit constitutes a summary offense. The Code Enforcement
Officer is authorized to institute such actions before the appropriate
Magisterial District Judge. Upon conviction for violation of this
chapter, the person, firm, or corporation who violated this chapter
shall pay a fine of not more than $300 and/or be imprisoned for a
term not to exceed 90 days. Every day that a violation continues shall
constitute a separate offense.
