Ten's Cabaret, Inc. v. City of New York
Opinion
OPINION OF THE COURT
In these two “adult establishment” zoning ordinance actions, plaintiffs move for a preliminary injunction, and defendants cross-move for summary judgment. Additionally, plaintiff in Ten’s Cabaret, Inc. v New York City (Index No. 121197/02) moves for summary judgment; and, plaintiffs in Pussycat Lounge, Inc. v City of New York (Index No. 122740/02) move to consolidate with Ten’s.
In Ten’s, the court grants plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and denies defendants’ cross motion for summary judgment. In addition, the court grants plaintiffs’ motion for consolidation in Pussycat, and also grants summary judgment for the plaintiffs as a result of this consolidation.
Background
Prior to November 23, 1994, the City of New York made no distinction between adult entertainment and commercial businesses without adult character. The New York City Zoning Resolution of December 15, 1961 allowed adult entertainment businesses to coexist with other commercial or residential land uses. In 1977, the City Planning Commission (CPC) concluded that adult entertainment uses had negatively impacted the five boroughs of New York City. The CPC proposed new zoning regulations to distinguish adult entertainment uses and restrict their potential locations. However, the Board of Estimate rejected the proposal because of disagreement about the appropriate extent of such regulations and concern that the regulations would cause the adult businesses to move to new locations. Residents appealed to local officials to shut down adult establishments in their neighborhoods. In response, officials closed adult video stores and bars in Astoria, Jackson Heights, Chelsea, Murray Hill, Forest Hills, and Bay Ridge. The number of adult establishments decreased from 151 in 1976 to 131 in 1984. However, the number of adult establishments increased [401] by 35% in 1993. More than 75% of these businesses were in residential areas.
The City, concerned about the potential proliferation of adult uses, conducted a study of the negative secondary impacts of adult establishments in New York City. The Department of City Planning (DCP) study included (1) a survey of existing studies concerning the impacts of adult entertainment establishments and of regulation of such establishments in other localities;
Footnotes
1 Misc. 3d 399 (Ten's Cabaret, Inc. v. City of New York) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.