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A-98-2 August 31, 1998 <br />Staff Report Page 2 of 4 <br />"adequate number" for a particular city may be based on population, percentage of land <br />designated as potential sites, or a combination of the two. In order to revise the Zoning <br />Code to reflect these changes, the City Council placed a moratorium on adult -oriented <br />u businesses locating in San Leandro. This moratorium expired May 20, 1998. <br />Staff worked to develop new ordinances that would protect the community with the most <br />stringent regulations possible and comply with legal requirements. Staff determined that <br />the Zoning and Municipal Codes would need to be revised in two major areas: 1) the sites <br />available for the location of adult -oriented businesses, and 2) the manner in which adult - <br />oriented businesses are approved. <br />The current Code states that adult -oriented businesses are conditionally permitted only in <br />the CG Commercial General District and requires that they be at least 400 feet away from <br />any residential district, school, church, park or other adult -oriented business. The only <br />CG District in the City is currently located next to a church and is within 400 feet of a <br />residential district, thus resulting in a de facto prohibition of adult -oriented businesses in <br />San Leandro. This type of situation has been struck down in the courts as illegal; cities <br />are required to provide a "genuine opportunity" for adult entertainment to locate by <br />providing areas of adequate quantity and quality. <br />The manner in which adult -oriented businesses are permitted was also scrutinized. For <br />any business to be granted a Conditional Use Permit in the City of San Leandro, findings <br />must be made that the use will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare or <br />to the neighboring properties. With all of the evidence regarding the ill effects of adult - <br />oriented businesses on communities, these findings could never be made, again creating a <br />prohibition against such businesses from locating in San Leandro. <br />On April 20, 1998, staff brought a proposal before the City Council after the Planning <br />Commission had considered it at their March 26, 1998 meeting. At the Council's <br />hearing, the Council decided that the issue needed more public input and asked staff to <br />hold more public hearings. Staff held a community workshop on June 25, 1998 and <br />additional Planning Commission meeting on July 23, 1998. Notices for these hearings <br />were sent to all property owners within 1000 feet of potential sites, all schools, churches, <br />daycares and homeowners associations in the city as well as all school board members <br />and individuals who spoke at previous hearings or communicated with staff. The <br />meetings were also advertised with a legal ad in the Daily Review and a City Corner ad in <br />the San Leandro Times. <br />Acting on a suggestion made at the April 20th City Council meeting, staff also enlisted <br />the assistance of an organization, the National Family Legal Foundation (NFLF), to assist <br />the City in developing strong regulations for adult -oriented businesses and evaluate the <br />ordinances for legal soundness and strength. The ordinances have been revised to reflect <br />the suggestions recommended by both the NFLF and the public. <br />_ 54 <br />