THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION NO. 2096
Title
Resolution approving the decision of the City Planning Commission on Application No. N 010508 ZRY, an amendment to the text of the Zoning Resolution regarding adult establishments (L.U. No. 1112).
Body
By Council Members Eisland and McCaffrey
WHEREAS, the City Planning Commission filed with the Council on August 16, 2001 its decision dated August 8, 2001 (the "Decision"), on the application submitted by the Department of City Planning, pursuant to Section 201 of the New York City Charter, for an amendment to the text of the Zoning Resolution (Application No. N 010508 ZRY) (the "Application");
WHEREAS, the Decision is subject to review and action by the Council pursuant to Section 197-d(b)(1) of the City Charter;
WHEREAS, upon due notice, the Council held a public hearing on the Decision and Application on October 1, 2001;
WHEREAS, the Council has considered the land use implications and other policy issues relating to the Decision and Application; and
WHEREAS, the Council has considered the relevant environmental issues and the Negative Declaration, issued on March 26, 2001 (CEQR No. 01DCP054Y);
RESOLVED:
The Council finds that the action described herein will have no significant effect on the environment;
Pursuant to Sections 197-d and 200 of the City Charter and on the basis of the Decision and Application the Council approves the Decision; and
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The Zoning Resolution of the City of New York, effective as of December 15, 1961, and as subsequently amended, is further amended as follows:
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Matter in greytone is new, to be added;
Matter in strikeout is existing text, to be deleted;
*** indicates where unchanged text appears in the Resolution
Section 12-10
DEFINITIONS
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Adult Establishment (10/25/95)
1. Adult Establishment: An "adult establishment" is a commercial establishment where a "substantial portion" of the establishment which is or includes an adult book store, adult eating or drinking establishment, adult theater, or other adult commercial establishment, or any combination thereof as defined below:
(a) An adult book store is a book store which has as that offers "printed or visual material" for sale or rent to customers where a "substantial portion" of its stock-in-trade of "printed or visual material" consists of "adult printed or visual material", defined as any one or more of the following:
(1) books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter which are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or
(2) photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes or other visual representations which are "printed or visual material" characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas";
(b) An adult eating or drinking establishment is an eating or drinking establishment which regularly features in any portion of such establishment any one or more of the following:
(1) live performances which are characterized by an emphasis on "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities"; or
(2) films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions which are characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or
(3) employees who, as part of their employment, regularly expose to patrons "specified anatomical areas"; and
which is not customarily open to the general public during such features because it excludes or restricts minors by reason of age.
(c) An adult theater is a theater commercial establishment which regularly features one or more of the following:
(1) films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides or similar photographic reproductions characterized by an emphasis on the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or
(2) live performances characterized by an emphasis on "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities"; and
which is not customarily open to the general public during such features because it excludes or restricts minors by reason of age.
An adult theater shall include commercial establishments where such materials or performances are viewed from one or more individual enclosures.
(d) An other adult commercial establishment is a facility - other than an adult book store, adult eating or drinking establishment, adult theater, commercial studio, or business or trade school - which features employees who as part of their employment, regularly expose to patrons "specified anatomical areas" and which is not customarily open to the general public during such features because it excludes or restricts minors by reason of age.
For the purpose of defining adult establishments,
2. Defined Terms:
(a) For purposes of paragraph (1) (a), "printed or visual materials" are books, magazines, or other printed matter, including product packaging or wrapping, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other visual matter;
(b) For purposes of paragraph (1)(a)(b) and (c), "specified sexual activities" are: (1 i) human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal; (2 ii) actual or simulated acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse or sodomy; or (3 iii) fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals, pubic region, buttock, anus or female breast;
(c) For purposes of paragraph (1)(a)(b)(c) and (d), "specified anatomical areas" are: (1 i) less than completely and opaquely concealed: (i aa) human genitals, pubic region,(ii bb) human buttock, anus, or (iii cc) female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; or (2 ii) human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely concealed.
For the purpose of determining whether a "substantial portion" of an establishment includes an adult bookstore, adult eating or drinking establishment, adult theater, or other adult commercial establishment, or combination thereof, the following factors shall be considered: (1) the amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers and allocated to such uses and (2) the amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers and allocated to such uses as compared to the total floor area and cellar space accessible to customers in the establishment.
(d) For the purpose of determining under paragraph (1)(a) whether a bookstore has a "substantial portion" of its stock in materials defined in paragraphs (a)(1) or (a)(2) hereof a book store's stock-in-trade of "printed or visual" material consists of "adult printed or visual material", the following factors shall be considered: (1) (i) the amount of such stock of "adult printed or visual material" accessible to customers as compared to the total stock of "printed or visual material" accessible to customers in the establishment; and (2) (ii) the amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers containing such stock of "adult printed or visual material"; and (3) (iii) the amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers containing such stock "of adult printed or visual material" as compared to the total amount of floor area and cellar space accessible to customers in the establishment containing "printed or visual material" which is not "adult printed or visual material", provided that "printed or visual material" which is not "adult printed or visual material" (hereinafter for purposes of this paragraph "other printed or visual material") shall not be considered stock-in-trade for purposes of this paragraph where such store has one or more of the following features:
(aa) An interior configuration and lay-out which requires customers to pass through an area of the store with "adult printed or visual material" in order to access an area of the store with "other printed or visual material";
(bb) One or more individual enclosures where adult movies or live performances are available for viewing by customers;
(cc) A method of operation which requires customer transactions with respect to "other printed or visual material" to be made in an area of the store which includes "adult printed or visual material";
(dd) A method of operation under which "other printed or visual material" is offered for sale only and "adult printed or visual material" is offered for sale or rental;
(ee) A greater number of different titles of "adult printed or visual material" than the number of different titles of "other printed or visual material";
(ff) A method of operation which excludes or restricts minors from the store as a whole or from any section of the store with "other printed or visual material";
(gg) A sign that advertises the availability of "adult printed or visual material" which is disproportionate in size relative to a sign that advertises the availability of "other printed or visual material," when compared with the proportions of adult and other printed or visual materials offered for sale or rent in the store, or the proportions of floor area or cellar space accessible to customers containing stock of adult and other printed or visual materials;
(hh) A window display in which the number of products or area of display of "adult printed or visual material" is disproportionate in size relative to the number of products or area of display of "other printed or visual material," when compared with the proportions of adult and other printed or visual materials offered for sale or rent in the store, or the proportions of floor area or cellar space accessible to customers containing stock of adult and other printed or visual materials;
(ii) Other features relating to configuration and lay-out or method of operation, as set forth in rules adopted by the commissioner of buildings, which the commissioner has determined render the sale or rental of "adult printed or visual material" a substantial purpose of the business conducted in such store. Such rules shall provide for the scheduled implementation of the terms thereof to commercial establishments in existence as of the date of adoption, as necessary.
(e) For the purposes of paragraph (1) (b), an "eating or drinking establishment" includes: (i) any portion of a commercial establishment within which food or beverages are offered for purchase, or are available to or are consumed by customers or patrons, and (ii) any portion of a commercial establishment from which a portion of a commercial establishment described in (i) above is accessible by customers or patrons.
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32-01
Special Provisions for Adult Establishments
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(b) In C6-4, C6-5, C6-6, C6-7, C6-8, C6-9, C7 or C8 Districts, #adult establishments# no #adult establishment# shall be located at least established less than 500 feet from a church, a #school#, a #Residence District#, a C1, C2, C3, C4, C5-1, C6-1, C6-2 or C6-3 District, or a #Manufacturing District#, other than an M1-6M District, in which new #residences#, new #joint living-work quarters for artists# or new #loft dwellings# are allowed, under the provisions of the Zoning Resolution, as-of-right or by special permit or authorization. No provisions or findings of such special permit or authorization which require an assessment of the impact of new #residences#, new #joint living-work quarters for artists# or new #loft dwellings# on #commercial# or #manufacturing uses# within a #Manufacturing District# shall be construed as a limitation on the scope of this provision. However, on or after October 25, 1995, an #adult...
(c) in C6-4, C6-5, C6-6, C6-7, C6-8, C6-9, C7 or C8 Districts, #adult establishments# no #adult establishment# shall be located established at least less than 500 feet from another a previously established #adult establishment#.
(d) in C6-4, C6-5, C6-6, C6-7, C6-8, C6-9, C7, or C8 districts, no more than one #adult establishment# permitted under this Section shall be located established on a #zoning lot#.
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(f) #adult establishments# which existed on were established on the effective date...
For purposes of this section, an #adult establishment# shall be established upon the date of a permit issued by the department of buildings therefor, or, in the case of an #adult establishment# in existence prior to August 8, 2001, as determined by the department of buildings, subject to rules as the department of buildings may prescribe regarding the failure to perform work authorized under a permit or to commence operation pursuant to a permit and the discontinuance of an #adult establishment#.
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42-01
Special Provisions for Adult Establishments
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(a) #adult establishments# are not permitted in a #Manufacturing District# in which #residences#, #joint living-work quarters for artists# or #loft dwellings# are, under the provisions of the Zoning Resolution, allowed as-of-right or by special permit or authorization. No provisions or findings of such special permit or authorization which require an assessment of the impact of new #residences#, new #joint living-work quarters for artists# or new #loft dwellings# on #commercial# or #manufacturing uses# within a "Manufacturing District# shall be construed as a limitation on the scope of this provision.
(b) In all other #Manufacturing Districts#, #adult establishments# no #adult establishment# shall be located established at least less than 500 feet from a church, a #school#, a #Residence District#, a C1, C2, C3, C4, C5-1, C6-1, C6-2 or C6-3 District, or a #Manufacturing District#, other than an M1-6M District, in which new #residences#, new #joint living-work quarters for artists# or new #loft dwellings# are allowed, under the provisions of the Zoning Resolution, as-of-right or by special permit or authorization. No provisions or findings of such special permit or authorization which require an assessment of the impact of new #residences#, new #joint living-work quarters for artists# or new #loft dwellings# on #commercial# or #manufacturing uses# within a "Manufacturing District# shall be construed as a limitation on the scope of this provision. However, on or after October 25, 1995, an #adult establishment# that otherwise complies with the provisions of this paragraph shall not be rendered #non-conforming# if a church or a #school# is established on or after April 10, 1995 within 500 feet of such #adult establishment#.
(c) #Adult establishments# No #adult establishment# shall be located at least established less than 500 feet from another #adult establishment#.
(d) No more than one #adult establishment# permitted under this Section shall be located established on a #zoning lot#.
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(f) #Adult establishments# which existed on were established on October 25, 1995 and conform to all provisions of the Zoning Resolution relating to #adult establishments# other than the provisions of all or any combination of paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of this Section, shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 52-77 (Termination of Adult Establishments).
For purposes of this section, an #adult establishment# shall be established upon the date of a permit issued by the department of buildings therefor, or, in the case of an #adult establishment# in existence prior to August 8, 2001, as determined by the department of buildings, subject to rules as the department of buildings may prescribe regarding the failure to perform work authorized under a permit or to commence operation pursuant to a permit and the discontinuance of an #adult establishment#.
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72-01
General Provisions
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(f) to make such administrative determinations and findings as may be set forth in this Resolution or pursuant to Section 72-40 (AMORTIZATION OF CERTAIN ADULT ESTABLISHMENTS AND SIGNS FOR ADULT ESTABLISHMENTS), or to Section 72-41 (Continuation of Certain Adult Establishments).
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72-40
Amortization of Certain Adult Establishments and Signs For Adult Establishments
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This section shall not apply to commercial establishments described in section 72-41.
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72 - 41
Continuation of Certain Adult Establishments
Any commercial establishment in existence as of August 8, 2001 which: (i) subsequent to September 18, 1995 and prior to August 8, 2001 made financial expenditures so as to avoid becoming subject to the provisions of Section 32-01 or 42-01 (Special Provisions for Adult Establishments); and (ii) is defined as an #adult establishment# pursuant to the amendments to the definition of #adult establishment# in Section 12-10 adopted on (date of Council adoption), shall terminate as an #adult establishment# within one year from (date of Council adoption). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Standards and Appeals may permit such #adult establishment# to continue for a limited period beyond such one year period, provided that:
(b) an application is made by the owner of such establishment to the Board of Standards and Appeals at least 120 days prior to the date on which such establishment must terminate;
(c) the Board shall find, in connection with such establishment, that:
(1) the applicant had made, subsequent to September 18,1995 and prior to August 8, 2001, substantial financial expenditures so as to avoid becoming subject to the provisions of Section 32-01 or 42-01 (Special Provisions for Adult Establishments);
(2) the applicant has not recovered substantially all such financial expenditures; and
(3) the period for which such establishment may be permitted to continue is the minimum period sufficient for the applicant to recover substantially all of such financial expenditures;
For purposes of this Section, "financial expenditures" shall mean the following: (i) any capital outlay for improvements made in connection with the configuration or reconfiguration of the amount of #floor area# and #cellar# space within such establishment accessible to customers either: (a) containing books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other visual matter characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas"; or (b) allocated to one of the activities described in paragraphs (b) (c) or (d) of section 1 of the definition of #adult establishment# in Section 12-10; and (ii) any purchases of books, magazines, periodicals, or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other visual matter, which are not characterized by an emphasis upon the depiction or description of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas".
The provisions of Sections 52-77 and 72-40 shall not apply to commercial establishments subject to this Section.
Adopted.
Office of the City Clerk, }
The City of New York, } ss.:
I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution passed by The Council of The City of New York on October 31, 2001, on file in this office.
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City Clerk, Clerk of Council
Page 19 of 1
N 010508 ZRY
Reso. No. 2096 (L.U. No. 1112)
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