The prospect of X-rated businesses opening up near homes has residents of the Southern Massachusetts town of Berkley up in arms. With no zoning laws, the location of any new businesses depends on approval by a local governing board.
"A proposal in Berkley to allow adult entertainment in the northeast corner of town has roiled residents and officials across the border in Lakeville, who fear the X-rated businesses would bring undesirable elements too close to their homes."
"'We respect their desire to put these kinds of businesses in a remote area, but this abuts Lakeville, and it abuts residentially zoned homes,' Lakeville Selectman Charles E. Evirs Jr. said. 'This might be remote to them, but it's close to our homes.'"
"Many cities and towns in Massachusetts established adult entertainment districts in the mid-1990s, after a series of federal and state court rulings held that nude dancing and other adult entertainment were protected as free speech under the US Constitution and could not be banned outright."
"The courts ruled, however, that adult entertainment could be regulated through zoning."
"Berkley is one of the few towns in Eastern Massachusetts without any zoning districts, though for the past two years town officials have been debating an overall zoning plan for the community."
"Businesses now can open anywhere they want in Berkley if they receive a special permit from the Board of Selectmen. Leary said the adult entertainment district is needed to protect the town from a potential legal challenge if an adult business tried to set up shop in town."
FULL STORY: X-rated zone too close for comfort
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie