ROCKLAND, Maine — City councilors will consider imposing regulations to restrict adult novelty stores to a few commercial sections of the community.
The proposal unveiled by City Attorney Kevin Beal on Monday night would limit adult novelty stores to the commercial 1 zone, which includes upper Park Street and Payne Avenue; the commercial 3 zone, which includes Route 90; and the plaza commercial zone, which is where the two shopping centers in Rockland are located (Camden Street and Maverick Street).
Adult businesses also would be prohibited from being within 300 feet of a school, day care center, park, playground, church, school or lodging establishment. The city attorney said he does not know how many properties this would make eligible for such businesses.
In addition, the city attorney’s proposal would require applicants for such businesses to go before the planning board and the City Council for a license, similar to what restaurants are required to do to serve liquor. A background check would be required, and if the applicant has a felony conviction or convictions for any type of sex assault or prostitution, that person would be disqualified from operating such a business.
The proposed ordinance would be retroactive to October, Beal said.
The council is working to enact an ordinance in response to Herman “Rusty” Hoffman’s interest in opening a store in Rockland. He had operated a store in Waldoboro, which has closed. He also looked at opening a store in Damariscotta, where voters approved a moratorium in September to give town officials six months to come up with regulations.
Hoffman plans to sell pipes, sex toys, pornography and swords at the store, Code Officer John Root said of information provided by Hoffman. Hoffman also said he will sell tobacco, figurines, regular DVDs and knives.