MISSION VIEJO : City Ponders Zoning for Adult Businesses

Because it has been found that a school sits within one of four city zones in which adult businesses are permitted, a temporary ordinance restricting the locations of such businesses will be reviewed today by the City Council.

The council will decide whether to extend the law, which was enacted on an urgency basis on Feb. 22, for another 10 months.

No adult businesses exist in Mission Viejo, but council members said that City Hall has received enough inquiries from adult business representatives to justify an urgency ordinance.

The small private school, which teaches seventh- to 12th-grade students, is located in an office building at 26440 La Alameda, near City Hall.

Meanwhile, the Planning Commission is working on a final version of the ordinance for recommendation to the council. Last week, the 11th public meeting on the issue held since January drew more than 100 residents, some of whom pushed for a total ban on adult businesses in the city.

But city officials said that courts are overturning local laws that try to wipe out all adult businesses.

“You can’t prohibit them entirely,” said Assistant City Atty. John Cavanaugh, who advises the Planning Commission. “Any local ordinances that have tried to invalidate them entirely have been overturned” as violating First Amendment protections.

“I think we have a law that is at least 99% defensible,” Cavanaugh said.

An informal workshop on the adult business ordinance will be held by the commission at City Hall, 26522 La Alameda, on Sept. 23. The commission is expected to hold a final vote on the council recommendation on Oct. 4.