The purpose of this bylaw is to establish reasonable and uniform
regulation of adult entertainment uses within the Town of Hadley.
The intent of the bylaw is to address and mitigate the negative secondary
effect of adult entertainment uses. Studies have documented that the
quality of life in a community is degraded by adult entertainment
establishments as a result of increased levels of crime; depreciation
of property values; adverse impacts on the business climate; adverse
impacts on neighborhood character; and adverse impacts on public health,
including noise, litter, unsanitary conditions, traffic and adverse
influence on children.
The provisions of this bylaw have neither the purpose nor the
effect of imposing limitation or restriction on the content of any
communicative materials, and it is not the intent nor effect of this
bylaw 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 adult entertainment to their intended market. It
is neither the intent nor the effect of this bylaw to condone or legitimize
the distribution of obscene or other illegal matter or materials.
[Amended 5-5-2011 ATM by Art. 18; 5-22-2021 ATM by Art. 3]
23.2.1.
The following terms shall be defined
as stated in MGL c. 272, § 31. Also see § 1.2.
Adult entertainment uses shall be allowed in the Industrial
Zoned District with the granting of a special permit by the Board
of Appeals.
The provisions of this section are severable, and in the event
that any provision of this section is determined to be invalid for
any reason, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and
effect.