A.
Ulster County and its surrounding communities have
experienced an increase in the establishment of adult uses. Based
upon recent studies evaluating the nature and extent of adverse secondary
effects caused by adult uses in commercial and residential areas,
the Village Board of the Village of Saugerties hereby finds that adult
uses have negative secondary impacts such as increased crime rates,
depreciation of property values and a deterioration of community character
and quality of life. These studies include an April 1996 study by
the City of Kingston, and a September 1994 study by the New York City
Department of City Planning.
B.
The Village Board of the Village of Saugerties also
finds and declares that there are some uses, such as adult uses, which,
due to their very nature, have serious objectionable characteristics.
The objectionable characteristics of these uses are further heightened
by their concentration in any one area, thereby having deleterious
effects on other adjacent areas. Special regulation of these uses
is necessary to insure that these adverse effects will not contribute
to the blighting and the downgrading of the surrounding neighborhoods
or land uses. This local law is being enacted to accomplish the primary
purposes of preventing a concentration of these uses in any one area
and restricting their accessibility to minors.
C.
It is further declared that the location of adult
use establishments near residential zoning districts, schools, places
of religious worship, parks, playgrounds, playing fields or other
areas where our youth may regularly assemble is of great concern to
the Village of Saugerties, as is the general atmosphere encompassing
the operation of such adult uses.
D.
It is further recognized that the Village Police Department's
resources would be strained to adequately address the potential increased
demand for crime prevention.[1] The proliferation of such uses could dangerously affect
the welfare of the entire community through the degradation of the
communities' retail areas, as well as the potential decline in property
values and overall quality of the neighborhood.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Village Police Department was abolished
1-19-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010. Its duties have been assumed by the
Town Police Department.
E.
This local law is required to prevent such deleterious
secondary effects. It is the purpose and intent of this ordinance
to provide for the orderly regulation of adult uses in the Village
of Saugerties by establishing certain minimum standards of the conduct
of this type of business to protect the public order and general welfare
of the residents of the Village of Saugerties.
