Palm Beach County, Florida

Palm Beach County Adult Entertainment Site Availability Study
   

Federal courts in Florida have been more proactive than most federal courts in trying to determine what is a reasonable number of available sites for sex businesses in a local jurisdiction. Palm Beach County retained Eric Damian Kelly individually, with a subcontract to Duncan Associates, to analyze the availability of sites for sex businesses in the unincorporated area of the County.
Using the locational and separation standards contained in the current zoning ordinance, the project team analyzed every “quad” of the zoning map to determine sites that might be available for sex

businesses, based on current zoning. The team then made a visit to each of those sites to determine whether there were obstacles to the use of the site – including the location of sensitive land uses nearby that would prevent siting of a sex business there.
.In addition, the team visited each of the sites of existing sex businesses in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county – to identify the number of businesses already in existence and their general nature. The team also made a general review of the local zoning ordinances and maps in the incorporated cities, identifying additional potential sites in commercial areas in those communities. The final product was a memo to the county’s lawyers, delivered through the zoning office, identifying: the number and types of sex businesses already existing throughout Palm Beach County; the number and location of additional sites that were readily available (in developed areas, vacant, for sale, for lease or significantly under-used) for the location of sex businesses; and the number and general location of additional sites that could become available if the county continues to develop.

Period:    May 1999 - June 2000               Contact:    Ann Hoctor
Team:      Eric Damian Kelly                                        561.233.5200
               Duncan Associates