This article is for the purpose of minimizing the harmful secondary effects of sexually oriented business land uses within the City and protecting Lakewood’s citizens, persons who own property within the City, and people who travel through the City from crime, blight and other harmful secondary effects associated with such businesses.

By limiting the areas in which sexually oriented businesses are allowed to operate, the Lakewood City Council intends to protect families, children and residential neighborhoods from crimes, nuisances and disturbances of the public peace and safety; to protect residential neighborhoods and business districts from blight and deterioration of property values; and to protect, foster and support the goals and ideals of schools, religious and public service organizations serving the Lakewood community.

It is not the intent of this article to suppress any constitutionally protected speech or expression. This article is intended as a content-neutral regulation to diminish and control crime and the harmful secondary effects associated with sexually oriented businesses, while allowing the existence of constitutionally protected expression. [Ord. 726 § 2 (Exh. B), 2019.]