Neighbors do about-face and vote to Welcome porn shop!

Last night, in an unexpected about-face, neighbors in Berlin’s Webster Heights voted to give up their opposition to the VIP “adult” shop that is trying to open near their homes.

When asked why the sudden change of heart, one resident, who asked to remain anonymous, stated “After reviewing some of the points brought up by Atty. Dan Silver, General Manager Gary Porter, and a letter to the editor of the Berlin Citizen by an astute Berlinite… we just saw the light. It’s all in the way you choose to view the situation. If you just take a moment, you can appreciate all the positives, and forget all the negative aspects so many have been dwelling on.”

Asked to elaborate, another neighbor offered these selling points,”Well, to be honest, I never considered the convenience of not having to drive all the way to Hartford to buy a little sexy something for my wife’s birthday! With VIP just a few doors down, I can just pop in on my way home from work, without having to go the extra ten miles into that dangerous industrial section of Hartford.”

A mother of three chimed in saying “With 3 kids, its hard to find time to “spice things up,” if you know what I mean. Now that I know it’s really a romance shop, maybe it can help revive my less-than-spicy marriage and keep my husband off the computer for a while. Really, I mean, I hear these stores actually SAVE marriages.”

Aren’t you concerned about property values? One resident answered that “At first, I WAS, but since that letter in the Citizen pointed out that maybe if we just give them a chance, VIP will go out of their way to be a “low-key, unobtrusive” adult business, you know, that quitely blends in with the neighborhood. I’m not concerned anymore that they might paint it the same color as the Manchester location. As far as potential pornographic litter, I’m sure that they have parking lot clean up on an hourly basis.”

What about other potential problems in the parking lot? “Oh, I am sure that they must have security surveillance at all times! I mean, would people actually DO something sexual in a parking lot?”

One neighbor said she was even considering getting a part-time job at the store. “Why not? I could walk to work and save on gas. I mean, besides bringing down taxes, VIP is even bringing JOBS to Berlin!”
And what about the imact on the children? “Oh, I don’t know what the fuss is. They’re just going to see these things on TV anyways… this stuff is so mainstream, they probably have seen it all already.”

Asked for his take on the turnaround, Mayor Adam Salina said “You know, I never thought of these things either. Maybe we should embrace VIP, and other stores like it, and promote Berlin as the Sex-positive Mecca of Central Connecticut. Maybe we could get a billboard that says “Berlin, your place for hometown porn, around every corner!”

Gary Porter, VIP general manager stated “I KNEW these people would come around after I just EXPLAINED the benefits we have to offer!”

As I was reviewing my notes for this article, I noticed the date of the meeting: Sunday, April 1, 2007. APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CT Legislature proposing bill dealing with SOBs

Yesterday I attended a CT state General Assembly public hearing of the planning and development committee. They are working on a proposed bill, Raised Bill 6993, which deals with locations of adult businesses, hours of operation and defining adult businesses. The idea is to have some uniformity in place for towns to base their sexually oriented business ordinances on, and to strengthen support for towns to do so.

There is still a lot to be worked out with this bill, particularly setting a distance of 1000 feet. This would not work for many towns, as it might leave no available land suitable for an adult business, effectively zoning them out of existence in that town.That IS unsconstitutional. Also, this bill seems to only be addressing public buildings. They should also address residential property.

This was my first experience seeing state government in action.
Berlin Mayor Adam Salina was there, and was the first member of the public to speak. He thanked them for addressing this issue, and gave an overview of Berlin’s situation with VIP, and brought a copy of Berlin’s SOB ordinance for them.
Rep. Art Feltman, of Hartford, seemed very interested and asked questions concerning the current Hartford battle being fought using the proximity to a trash museum. He wanted to know what was the impetus for drafting our SOB ordinance, and anyone was aware of any studies showing the impact of SOBs on children.

Sen. Donald DeFronzo spoke next. It seems he has submitted a seperate bill aimed at addressing billboards for SOBs. He spoke about that, and took some questions, most of which he did not have ready answers to about advertising regulations, etc. and it was agreed that furth study would go into this issue.

Then, much to my surprise, AG Richard Blumenthal came in and spoke. He praise Berlin’s official and state reps and citizens for our vigilant efforts to protect our town and children, and reiterated his committment to assist us in our fight. He praised the committee for raising the bill and stated that his office was available to assist the legislature in wording this bill as effectively as possible. They asked him a few questions, and started bringing up alot of banter about existing non-conforming usage.

Silver spoke next. He had submitted written testsimony ahead of time (this probably spared us hours) and then the situation really seemed to be about our specific situation, like they were all going to take a vote then and there as to the outcome of our case! That made me somewhat nervous, as this was not the time or place.

A lobbyist went next on an unrelated zoning issue.

Then it was my turn, and, to be honest, I am not entirely sure what I said!!! It turns out you only have 3 minutes! I started by thanking them for addressing the issue. I was not expecting anything today to effect my specific situation, but that I was there as a citizen whose life was being directly effected by an SOB locating next to my home, and I wanted to help them to prevent others from being in the same situation. I held up one of the large photos of VIP and my house to show them how close it was.
I expressed my concern about the dictated distance of 1000′ and why that would not work for every community, that I would like to see the bill require each town to have an SOB ordinance, tailored to the specifics of that town, and urged them to work
with Blumenthal’s office to create a bill that is passable AND will hold up in a court of law.

Clearly this is an issue that could effect many towns in the future, and all eyes seem to be on what happens in Berlin.

Infra/Red Remonstrance Hearing canceled!

The Remonstrance Hearing on the issuance of a liquor license at the former Infra/Red Cafe by the CT state Liquor Commission, scheduled for Thurs. February 22 has been canceled, as the owners have withdrawn their application for a liquor license.

Let’s hope this means they will sell the property and it will be used in a more neighborhood friendly manner.

According to the Department of Consumer Protection (of which the liquor control commission is a part) a remonstrance is the opportunity for the general public to voice its formal objection to either a new liquor permit application or to the renewal of an existing liquor permit within its town.

Berlin resident Kurt Kemmling filed the remonstrance to keep the new owners of the former “Infra/Red Cafe” strip club from getting a license to re-open as a bar. The new owners wanted to open a bar/strip club called “Emerald City” in the location, which has been the subject of a recent lawsuit against the town (filed by Attorney Daniel Silver, who also represents VIP, and it would seem, practically every adult entertainment business east of the Mississippi.)

A Supreme court judge ruled last month that the town of Berlin’s SOB ordinance IS constitutional, and the town had a right to deny the application for a strip club in this location, as the previous owner (who had been grandfathered in) had let the license expire.

For more on the court’s ruling on Berlin’s SOB ordinance in this case click here.

For more on how Kurt Kemmling fought this strip club using a remonstrance (and the award he got from local newspaper “The Berlin Citizen,” click here.

Nearly 100 attend Community Forum

Nearly 100 people attended our informational community forum last night at the Peck Library.
We didn’t know whether it would be just our regular meeting members or how many would come, so I think having 100 people come out on a freezing weeknight in February is a great turnout.
Karen S., the moderator for the evening introduced the invited guests, who included Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Berlin Mayor Adam Salina, Berlin Police Chief Paul Fitzgerald, Senator Donald DeFronzo, and state reps. Cathy Abercrombie and Joe Aresimowicz.
Karen read a letter of support sent by the Berlin Clergy Council, then started with the question and answer portion of the meeting. Each invited guest was sent a few questions ahead of time to be able research answers if need be. Fifeteen minutes was slotted for each guest to address the questions.

Mayor Salina addressed the issues of the signs being erected without permits, the cease and desist order issued, and said “Allow them to cover the signs or take them down, and we’re also hoping to have some type of assurances, preferably in writing, that they will not open prior to obtaining their certificate.”
He also discussed the recent town council vote to allot $25,000.00 to hire the law firm Wiggin and Dana to assist Berlin’s corporate counsel in this legal battle.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal began by holding up this weeks Berlin Citizen paper and commenting on the cover photo of a 3 year old girl who’s view out her bedroom window is of the VIP signs, which are illuminated at night.
“I am a parent. I have four children,” he said. “And I know how upset I’d be if I was in your shoes … seeing this kind of establishment move in.”
Blumenthal went on to say that while his office does not have jurisdiction over town zoning matters, they could file an “Amicus Curiae,” or Friend of the Court brief as an interested party, and offer his office’s legal assistance to Berlin’s town attorney.
The AG told us that he was not there just to do us a favor, but that this was an important issue that did not effect only Berlin, but if not here, could just as easily be happening in any other town. He went on to say he would be checking with attorneys general around the country to address these types of stores.

Senator Donald DeFronzo brought with him and discussed copies of a proposed bill to the General Assembly concerning zoning regulations of adult businesses. The bill is now in committee. He mentioned one of the topics Mr. Blumenthal brought up about age requirements to enter these stores as something the state senate could also possibly address.

Berlin Police chief Paul Fitzgerald addressed some of the concerns about deliveries being made to the store (at the meeting it was suggested that trucks were delivering merchandise at night… there is some misunderstanding about this. I am right next door and have not noticed night time deliveries. It is the mobile billboard truck that comes at night, NOT delivery trucks.)
Fitzgerald also heard concerns about traffic, stop signs, a ‘no left turn’ sign and developing a neighborhood block watch.

Cathie Abercrombie and Joe Aresimowicz addresses the crowd together, commenting on the many phone calls and e-mails each has received on the subject. They joined the other state officials in agreeing that there are some aspects of this subject which may be able to be addressed by legislature.

All agreed that this was not an isolated problem of one neighborhood, but effects the community as a whole, as well as other communities.

For more on this community forum, read this Courant article from today’s paper.

Meeting on Thurs., Feb. 8, 2007

The NO VIP (Neighbors Opposing Very Intimate Pleasures) group has set up a Informational Forum with various town officials.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 8, 2007 from 7-9pm in the Community room at Peck Memorial Library in the Town Hall complex.

We have invited Mayor Adam Salina, Berlin police chief Paul Fitzgerald, State Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, State Rep. Cathy Abercrombie, Sen. Donald DeFronzo and others to discuss various aspects of the situation. This is an informal question and answer meeting to address the many questions residents have as to where things stand.

Please feel free to e-mail any questions you may have to:
novip@sbcglobal.net

We will prepare a list of questions and concerns beforehand, as time is limited, and we want to address as many concerns as possible.

I will be posting this info on “The Sign” as well.