Waterville City Council adopts ban on adult businesses
By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE -- City councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt an ordinance that prohibits porn shops, adult book stores, massage parlors, nightclubs or other such adult businesses downtown. Such business are also probibited in residential areas, near schools, libraries, day care centers, churches, synagogues and playgrounds.
That leaves only some commercial areas in the city where such practices are allowed.
The 6-0 vote followed no discussion on the issue, which councilors have debated on and off for months.
After the vote, however, Council Chairman Dana Sennett, D-Ward 4, said he hopes other municipalities may benefit from Waterville's decision.
"I hope this sets the standard for other communities in the area who are dealing with this issue," he said.
Sennett is fulfilling mayoral duties in the absence of a mayor, including presiding over council meetings.
Councilor Rosemary Winslow, D-Ward 3, thanked councilors John O'Donnell, D-Ward 5, and Karen Rancourt-Thomas, D-Ward 7, for working on a committee that helped craft the ordinance, which is modeled after the town of Hallowell's.
"Thank you for doing such a good job with this, with our staff," Winslow said.
O'Donnell, an attorney, said City Solicitor William Lee also was owed a thanks for his work on the ordinance.
Many months ago, city officials considered making changes to the city's zoning ordinance that would prohibit adult entertainment downtown. They wanted to be able to determine what businesses would be appropriate for downtown and certain other areas of the city, they said.
But councilors could not agree on exactly what the changes should entail and time was running out for making changes to other sections of the zoning ordinance, so the council decided to handle the adult entertainment issue separately.
Meanwhile, an adult book store opened near homes on College Avenue, and at least one neighbor was not happy with the move.
Recently, councilors at the recommendation of Lee decided to craft a whole new adult business ordinance. The new ordinance defines adult businesses and where they may and may not be in the city.
In other matters Tuesday, councilors voted to set June 14 as the date for a special mayoral election.
Sennett and Planning Board member Erik Thomas, who was present at Tuesday's meeting, have said they plan to run for mayor.
City Democrat and Republican committees must caucus prior to the election, to choose mayoral candidates.
City Manager Michael Roy and Waterville Main Street Executive Director Shannon Haines gave a presentation of the results of a community branding initiative held in Waterville in November.
Waterville Main Street, the city, Central Maine Growth Council, Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Waterville Development Corp. and Kennebec Valley Council of Governments pitched in funds to hire Arnett Muldrow & Associates, a firm from Greenville, S.C., to visit the city and research the best ways for the city to market itself. Muldrow has done such work for about 200 communities in the U.S.
Muldrow issued its findings and presented Waterville logos and brands that may be used by the city, businesses, organizations and nonprofits. Signs, brochures, videos, advertisements and other marketing tools may be developed with the logos.
The brand statement for the city is "Converge and Create."
"Life converges in Waterville," Haines read from a power point presentation.
"We create in Waterville," Roy said, also reading.
Haines said she expects a branding party will be launched in April to present findings, including logos , to the public.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
WATERVILLE -- City councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt an ordinance that prohibits porn shops, adult book stores, massage parlors, nightclubs or other such adult businesses downtown. Such business are also probibited in residential areas, near schools, libraries, day care centers, churches, synagogues and playgrounds.
That leaves only some commercial areas in the city where such practices are allowed.
The 6-0 vote followed no discussion on the issue, which councilors have debated on and off for months.
After the vote, however, Council Chairman Dana Sennett, D-Ward 4, said he hopes other municipalities may benefit from Waterville's decision.
"I hope this sets the standard for other communities in the area who are dealing with this issue," he said.
Sennett is fulfilling mayoral duties in the absence of a mayor, including presiding over council meetings.
Councilor Rosemary Winslow, D-Ward 3, thanked councilors John O'Donnell, D-Ward 5, and Karen Rancourt-Thomas, D-Ward 7, for working on a committee that helped craft the ordinance, which is modeled after the town of Hallowell's.
"Thank you for doing such a good job with this, with our staff," Winslow said.
O'Donnell, an attorney, said City Solicitor William Lee also was owed a thanks for his work on the ordinance.
Many months ago, city officials considered making changes to the city's zoning ordinance that would prohibit adult entertainment downtown. They wanted to be able to determine what businesses would be appropriate for downtown and certain other areas of the city, they said.
But councilors could not agree on exactly what the changes should entail and time was running out for making changes to other sections of the zoning ordinance, so the council decided to handle the adult entertainment issue separately.
Meanwhile, an adult book store opened near homes on College Avenue, and at least one neighbor was not happy with the move.
Recently, councilors at the recommendation of Lee decided to craft a whole new adult business ordinance. The new ordinance defines adult businesses and where they may and may not be in the city.
In other matters Tuesday, councilors voted to set June 14 as the date for a special mayoral election.
Sennett and Planning Board member Erik Thomas, who was present at Tuesday's meeting, have said they plan to run for mayor.
City Democrat and Republican committees must caucus prior to the election, to choose mayoral candidates.
City Manager Michael Roy and Waterville Main Street Executive Director Shannon Haines gave a presentation of the results of a community branding initiative held in Waterville in November.
Waterville Main Street, the city, Central Maine Growth Council, Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, Waterville Development Corp. and Kennebec Valley Council of Governments pitched in funds to hire Arnett Muldrow & Associates, a firm from Greenville, S.C., to visit the city and research the best ways for the city to market itself. Muldrow has done such work for about 200 communities in the U.S.
Muldrow issued its findings and presented Waterville logos and brands that may be used by the city, businesses, organizations and nonprofits. Signs, brochures, videos, advertisements and other marketing tools may be developed with the logos.
The brand statement for the city is "Converge and Create."
"Life converges in Waterville," Haines read from a power point presentation.
"We create in Waterville," Roy said, also reading.
Haines said she expects a branding party will be launched in April to present findings, including logos , to the public.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
