Langford, British Columbia- No sex, please, we’re in Langford.
With all the awkwardness of a teenager fumbling with his girlfriend’s bra clasp, members of Langford’s planning and zoning committee this week discussed keeping stores selling “adult paraphernalia” from setting up shop within 800 metres of schools, play parks and daycare, preschool and community centres.
Since schools and recreation centres figure prominently in Langford’s downtown, the amendment would make it almost impossible for new sex shops to open in the area.
But discussion stalled before things could get hot and heavy when some committee members said it was difficult to decide on a ban without defining what an adult paraphernalia store was.
“I think we should make [the restriction] two kilometres. No, four kilometres,” quipped citizen committee member Steve Harvey. Without defining the term, “I don’t know what I’m talking about,” he said.
Chairwoman Coun. Lillian Szpak said the idea was being considered because there are commercial areas near schools and recreation facilities, and Langford wants to be proactive.
City planner Matthew Baldwin said Langford’s current zoning bylaw doesn’t differentiate between retail uses. The city of Richmond has a bylaw dealing with “adult paraphernalia stores.” That bylaw has a definition Langford might be able to consider, he said.
In fact, Richmond’s website defines an “adult paraphernalia store” as one “offering for rent, use, viewing or sale of an object (other than a contraceptive device) commodity, good, material, device, machine or entertainment which is designed or intended to be used in or is a depiction of a sexual act.”
That certainly describes the Love Den on Goldstream Avenue, which is owned by Amanda Stacey [pictured] and her husband, Rob.
Although a zoning change would not affect the Love Den, Stacey said she doesn’t like the idea of a bylaw that puts her store in a different zoning classification from others.
“I’m really tired of people putting me in a category where I don’t belong. I’m a retail store,” she said. “I’m half lingerie, and the other half is toys and body products.”
Stacey said no one under 18 is allowed in her store, only because she doesn’t have a door blocking access to her adult video section.
“How do you define adult? London Drugs sells vibrators and condoms, and other stores carry lingerie and oils and funny T-shirts. The only thing I’ve done is put them all together,” Stacey said.
“Some people view us as a scourge on the neighbourhood, that I’m worse than tattoo parlours and pawn shops in some way. Yet … we’ve got upstanding people in here all the time.”
The Langford committee tabled the item until it could consider the definition.