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Fort Madison Trying To Restrict Adult Businesses

Fort Madison, IA – The Fort Madison City Council is trying to make it more difficult for adult- or sexually-oriented businesses to locate within city limits. Planning and Zoning director, Ed Basch, says there is currently no city code that would prevent these businesses from setting up shop in a commercial or industrial area. The council has approved the first reading of an ordinance that would add many restrictions. The ordinance would only allow these businesses in a small section of the city's northwest side and in the industrial district in Fort Madison's southwest side. A sexually-oriented business is defined as one with live or recorded performances or one where at least 33% of total revenue is generated from adult material. Basch says 2 video stores, currently offering adult materials, would be exempt from the new law, as long as they do not increase their inventory. The measure must still be approved 2 more times.