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City attorneys urge caution as council considers 'family‑friendly' window rules for adult retail
Summary
Councilors discussed draft options to limit explicit window displays by adult‑goods stores in downtown Port Orchard. The city attorney warned regulations must be narrowly tailored under constitutional free‑speech limits; staff will bring the topic to council for direction before drafting ordinance language.
Council members discussed whether to adopt window‑display standards to keep storefronts “family‑friendly” if an adult goods store relocates downtown. Nick Bond, community development director, said the idea arose after a long‑standing adult goods business closed on Bay Street and councilors wanted to consider whether future displays should be limited.
City Attorney Charlotte Archer advised care in drafting any ordinance. “We can utilize time, place and manner restrictions associated with this type of material,” she said, but cautioned regulations should be “very carefully narrowly tailored” to reduce constitutional risk. Archer said she had not reviewed a draft ordinance but offered to provide redlines if the council gives direction.
Staff described two approaches: create a zoning definition and restrict where such stores may locate, or keep the land‑use classification as general retail but regulate window displays to prevent explicit items from being shown in pedestrian areas. Council members said their priority was managing downtown storefront appearances rather than banning uses outright.
The committee agreed to raise the matter at the next council meeting (good of the order) to gauge direction before asking staff or legal to draft ordinance language and return the issue to Land Use Committee if desired.
